The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully clearing a substantial backlog of 440,000 unprinted driver’s licence cards that had accumulated as of December 2024, according to Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe.
The Minister announced this development during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, marking a major breakthrough in addressing the longstanding challenges that had frustrated thousands of Ghanaian drivers waiting for their licence cards.
“As of December 2024, the DVLA had a backlog of 440,000 unprinted driver license cards. Currently, all those backlog cards have been printed and dispatched to the various DVLA offices for collection,” Minister Bukari confirmed during his address.
The clearance of this massive backlog represents a significant improvement in the DVLA’s operational efficiency and directly addresses the frustrations of hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian drivers who had been waiting for their physical licence cards despite completing all necessary requirements and payments.
Beyond clearing the existing backlog, the Transport Minister revealed that the DVLA has maintained momentum in its operations.
An additional 26,045 cards are in the final stages of production, demonstrating the authority’s commitment to preventing future accumulation of unprinted cards.
This development comes as part of broader efforts to modernize and improve the efficiency of Ghana’s transport sector services.
The DVLA, established by Act 569 in 1999, operates under the Ministry of Transport with a mandate to ensure road safety through proper driver and vehicle licensing processes.
The successful clearance of this backlog is expected to restore public confidence in the DVLA’s ability to deliver timely services to Ghanaian drivers.
Previously, the accumulation of unprinted cards had created significant inconvenience for drivers who needed their physical license cards for various official purposes, including travel documentation and employment verification.
The Minister’s announcement indicates that applicants who had been waiting for their driver’s license cards can now visit their respective DVLA offices to collect them.
This development is particularly welcome news for new drivers and those who had renewed their licences but were stuck in the printing queue.
The DVLA’s achievement in clearing this substantial backlog demonstrates the authority’s renewed focus on operational efficiency and customer service delivery.
It also reflects the government’s broader commitment to improving public service delivery across various sectors.
With all backlogged cards now printed and dispatched to regional offices, the DVLA appears better positioned to maintain current operations without allowing similar accumulations in the future.
This progress represents a significant step forward in ensuring that Ghana’s driver licensing system operates smoothly and efficiently serves the needs of the motoring public.
The successful resolution of this backlog issue is expected to enhance road safety compliance, as more drivers will now have access to their proper identification documents, supporting law enforcement efforts and improving overall road safety standards across the country.
Story Written By Prince Asante Kwarteng | Kobby Kyei News
