The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is facing growing public backlash over what many motorists are calling an exploitative and opaque spot fine system. According to multiple driver testimonies, the authority is allegedly using a long list of over 21 traffic offences to impose hefty fines — often GHC225 per infraction — with little room for warnings or leniency.
“What is happening is simply unfair,” lamented Kwabena Yeboah, a commercial driver in Accra. “They don’t even educate or caution you when you make a mistake. They just slap the fine on you and demand cash right there and then.”
Manual Collection Sparks Accountability Concerns
Even more troubling, drivers argue, is the DVLA’s insistence on physical cash payments during these spot checks. The authority has reportedly not implemented any digital or mobile money payment systems for such fines, raising serious questions about transparency and government revenue tracking.
“They collect money like ticket sellers at Makola Market,” said another driver. “No mobile money, no digital receipt tracking — just handwritten receipts. How do we know the money is going to the state?”
This old-fashioned and potentially abuse-prone method of collection has left many citizens skeptical of whether the funds reach the national treasury or are possibly siphoned off through corruption.
No Automation in 2025?
In an era where most government agencies and financial institutions in Ghana have embraced digitization and e-payment platforms, critics are baffled that the DVLA continues to rely solely on manual systems for spot fine collections. The situation has prompted calls for systemic reforms.
“DVLA is a critical institution. It is unacceptable that they have not automated this process. This undermines public confidence and creates room for misconduct by officials on the ground,” said Kwesi Amoah, a transport policy analyst.
Calls for Policy Review and Audit
Civic groups and transport unions are now demanding a full audit of DVLA’s spot fine operations and the urgent implementation of mobile payment solutions to ensure traceability and accountability. Some are calling on the Ministry of Transport and Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee to summon the DVLA leadership for explanations.
“It’s time for a full review of this practice,” said Efua Donkor of the Center for Civic Accountability. “The DVLA must not become a law unto itself. Citizens deserve fair treatment and transparent systems.”
A Pattern of Roadside Policing?
This isn’t the first time spot fines have come under scrutiny. In previous years, similar complaints were lodged against the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, leading to calls for cashless enforcement models. Many argue that DVLA’s current approach contradicts government’s broader push for a digitized and corruption-free public sector.
As public frustration grows, drivers say they are not against enforcement but demand fairness and modernization.
“Let them do their work, but let them do it transparently. Introduce mobile money. Link it to the DVLA database. Let us know that the state is the one collecting our money, not some individual officers enriching themselves,” one driver concluded.
