The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that Ghana’s new vehicle number plates will no longer display the year of registration as part of sweeping reforms to modernise the country’s vehicle registration system.
Speaking on Asempa Radio on Monday, August 3, 2026, DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey said the change is intended to eliminate the practice of motorists delaying vehicle registration simply to obtain a preferred registration year.
“There is no year of registration anymore, so who are you going to flex?” Kotey remarked.
Under the new system, vehicle registration numbers will also be linked to the registered owner rather than remaining permanently attached to the vehicle.
As a result, anyone selling a vehicle will be required to remove the existing number plates before handing it over to the buyer.
The DVLA will then deactivate the old registration and issue a new number plate to the purchaser once the ownership transfer process has been completed.
According to Kotey, the reform is designed to improve accountability and prevent former owners from being associated with offences or incidents involving vehicles they have already sold.
“When you sell your car, ensure you remove your number plate to avoid being linked to offences or incidents involving it,” he advised.
He said the new registration system will strengthen vehicle traceability, enhance road safety and support law enforcement agencies in tracking vehicle ownership more effectively.
The redesigned number plates form part of broader reforms by the DVLA to modernise vehicle registration and identification across Ghana.
