Deputy Finance Minister Commissions New DVLA Office In Asuogyaman, Pays License Fees For 500 Drivers And Okada Riders.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, *Thomas Ampem Nyarko*, has commissioned a newly constructed Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA, office at Senchi in the Asuogyaman District.

The facility forms part of government’s efforts to decentralize licensing services and bring them closer to the people.

Speaking at the ceremony at Senchi, Thomas Ampem Nyarko said residents, drivers and Okada riders in the district will no longer have to travel to distant towns such as Koforidua, Ho and Somanya to access license acquisition and renewal services.

According to him, the Asuogyaman office is the 25th out of a planned 40 new DVLA offices to be commissioned nationwide under the Authority’s decentralization agenda.

As part of the commissioning, the Deputy Minister announced that he had settled license acquisition and renewal fees for 500 commercial drivers and Okada riders in the district to cushion them amid current economic challenges.

The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, cautioned Ghanaians to desist from transacting business with ‘Goro boys’ at DVLA centers.

According to him, the practice encourages corruption, delays service delivery and exposes applicants to fraud.

He warned that a ‘Goro boy’ could even register someone’s vehicle in his own name.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, assured Ghanaians of the Authority’s commitment to decentralize its activities to the district level across the country.

According to him, the move is aimed at reducing travel time, cutting down costs for applicants, and improving revenue collection.

He further warned residents, drivers, Okada riders and staff to desist from dealing with _Goro boys_, adding that any office found complicit will be shut down immediately.

By:::*Jaman Dehyee Opambour.