The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) says it is reviewing its plan to extend licensing services to Ghanaians living abroad, following public criticism over the possible use of state resources to deploy staff outside the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, February 26, DVLA management said it had taken note of public concerns and was now considering alternative ways of delivering services to citizens in the diaspora.
“In view of these sentiments, Management is reviewing the proposed approach and exploring alternative options to ensure that our services remain accessible to all Ghanaians, including those residing outside the country,” the statement said.
The announcement marks a shift in tone from an earlier statement released the same day, in which the Authority dismissed reports suggesting it planned to post staff to Ghana’s embassies abroad.
In that earlier response, the DVLA described such reports as misleading and insisted that its proposal did not involve sending domestic staff overseas.
However, the clarification failed to calm public concerns, especially after it appeared to contradict remarks earlier made by the DVLA’s Chief Executive, Julius Neequaye Kotey.
Mr Kotey had, on Tuesday, February 25, spoken at the commissioning of a new DVLA office in Bantama, Kumasi, where he told staff that they would be travelling to provide licensing services in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
In another account of the same engagement, he mentioned six countries, including Dubai and South Africa, and spoke about plans to establish DVLA stations outside Ghana.
Those comments sparked widespread debate, with critics questioning why public funds should be used to deploy government workers abroad when many local DVLA offices are still struggling with staffing and logistical challenges.
Some commentators also raised concerns about allowances, accountability, and whether the initiative had gone through the necessary regulatory and procurement processes.
By midday on Wednesday, the Authority issued a second statement, acknowledging public concerns and adopting a more conciliatory tone.
“We appreciate the feedback and the concerns expressed by members of the public,” the DVLA said, adding that it remains committed to acting in the collective interest of Ghanaians.
Despite the latest assurance, questions remain about what exactly is being reviewed, especially since the first statement suggested that no overseas deployment was planned.
For many observers, the two statements appear difficult to reconcile, and the Authority has not yet provided further clarification.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians living abroad had welcomed the idea as a way to access licensing services without travelling home. The recent back-and-forth, however, has created uncertainty about how and when such services will eventually be delivered.
For now, the DVLA says it is reconsidering its approach, as it works to balance public concerns with the need to improve access to its services for citizens both at home and abroad.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com