The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has distanced itself from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) CEO’s claims about renewing driving licences for Ghanaians living abroad.
Julius Neequaye Kotey, the DVLA CEO, speaking at the commissioning of a new DVLA office at Bantama in Kumasi, made this announcement.
According to him, some staff will soon be travelling abroad to provide relevant drivers and vehicle licensing services to persons who would not necessarily need to return home to register and renew their licenses.
The DVLA CEO stated, “Some of you, the DVLA staff, you are travelling overseas to go and provide services in five countries outside. We have gotten approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for them to travel and do this for Ghanaians staying abroad. They don’t need to come down to renew their one-year license, which has expired. We will provide all licensing services for them”.
“Transfer is not punishment. It is just to tell you that your services are needed somewhere else, and we need you to be there for the efficiency and effective running of that office. Surely, more transfers will be coming on board. Stay by your table. When you get it, you look at the date, you pack your things, and you go,” he said.
However, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has neither issued directives to Ghana’s diplomatic missions nor granted approval to any entity for such an arrangement.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 26, the Ministry stated, “ACCRA, 26th FEBRUARY, 2026 – The attention of the Ministry of Foreign A ffairs has been drawn to a viral news headline claiming that the Ministry has granted approval for staff of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to travel to countries including United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Germany to register and renew driving licenses of Ghanaian drivers in the diaspora.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state categorically that it has neither issued a directive to our diplomatic missions abroad nor granted approval to any entity for such an arrangement.
The Ministry is not aware of any new government policy to that effect.
In addition, there is no record available at the Ministry pointing to this purported new policy direction.
For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no formal engagement, no new policy brought to our attention, and no financial commitment as irrefutable evidence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs establishes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure the general public of its commitment to transparency and financial prudence in public service delivery”.
Meanwhile, the DVLA CEO’s plans have been met with intense social media criticism, with many critics arguing that Ghanaians living abroad do not drive or require Ghanaian driver’s licences once outside the country.
According to them, the DVLA’s plans would amount to a waste of taxpayers’ money, adding that the resources could be better directed toward improving services at local DVLA offices.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, leading the charge, stated, “Abort! Abort! Abort!
This just smells like an upcoming scandal. When it looks like a scandal, sounds like a scandal, it will be a scandal.1 visa 1 license!”.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, in a Facebook post, also wrote, “How? I mean, how could anyone come up with this?”
In another post on X, he added, “This must be a joke”.
Kwaku Azar also, in a post, stated, “DVLA, thanks, but instead of licenses, just send us ‘wrɛwrɛ’ soup. Da Yie!”.
See the post below:
Foreign Ministry’s statement on purported approval for extension of DVLA services abroad. pic.twitter.com/6FSYlBD7Bf
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) February 26, 2026