Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, has fired shots at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) after they clarified an earlier statement by the CEO.
According to the DVLA, in a statement, media headlines circulating on its extended services abroad were misleading.
The DVLA explained that under their arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassy staff will be trained to verify applicants’ documents and forward them to the DVLA in Ghana for processing.
The DVLA, in a statement, clarified, “It has come to the attention of the Management of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) misleading news headlines over the extended services of DVLA to selected foreign countries.
For clarity, the DVLA, through an arrangement with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, has agreed to collaborate with Ghana’s Embassies across the globe to provide selected services, including International Driver’s Permit and Driver’s Licence Renewal to qualified Ghanaian citizens domiciled in other countries. The pilot phase will be undertaken in the United States of America, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the High Commission of the United Kingdom”.
It further added, “As part of the implementation plan, the DVLA will provide training to Embassy staff to do verification of documents and forward the same to DVLA for processing. Once the processing is done, the Authority would then return the processed documents to the various Embassies for pick-up by the applicants.
This operation does not in any way mean that the DVLA would post its domestic staff to work at Embassies in the aforementioned countries, as the news headlines sought to portray.
We wish to indicate that the Management of DVLA are committed to serving the interests of Ghanaians and has consistently pursued an agenda to place the services of the Authority closer to the people to minimise defaults as well as promote compliance”.
However, Manasseh Azure Awuni, in a post in reaction to the DVLA clarification describe the move as needless.
According to the Investigative Journalist, the DVLA must just Ghanaians who apply for services back home get them without stress.
He argued that a Ghanaian driver’s licence isn’t a priority for a person living in Canada or the U.S.
In his post, Manasseh stated, “Meaning DVLA staff will travel to the various embassies to train them. This is needless. Just ensure that those who apply for services back home get them without stress. If someone is living in Canada or the U.S., a Ghanaian driver’s licence isn’t a priority for them”.
Also, 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:
Meaning DVLA staff will travel to the various embassies to train them. This is needless. Just ensure that those who apply for services back home get them without stress. If someone is living in Canada or the U.S., a Ghanaian driver's licence isn't a priority for them. pic.twitter.com/42MztI05US
— Manasseh Azure Awuni (@Manasseh_Azure) February 26, 2026