The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has commissioned a new office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region as part of efforts to decentralise DVLA services and bring them closer to the people.

The new facility, commissioned, will provide residents of Asuogyaman and surrounding communities with access to key services, including vehicle registration and driver's licence acquisition and renewal. The office is the 25th out of the 40 new district offices to be established across the country under the DVLA's nationwide expansion programme this year.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe said the establishment of the office would improve access to DVLA services and reduce the inconvenience previously experienced by residents who had to travel long distances to access such services.

He noted that bringing the services closer to the people would also enhance driver education, licensing and professional training, while contributing to greater discipline and safety on the on our roads.

The Minister further urged members of the public to avoid the services of middlemen, popularly known as goro boys, and to deal directly with authorised DVLA officials to prevent the acquisition of fraudulent driver's licences and vehicle registration documents.

He reiterated the Government's commitment to strengthening the use of technology in transport management and road safety enforcement. He indicated that plans were underway to introduce number plates embedded with SIM technology to support law enforcement agencies in monitoring vehicles and enhancing road safety.

The Deputy Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, welcomed the establishment of the new office, noting that it would bring significant relief to drivers, riders and vehicle owners in the district who previously had to travel to Somanya, Ho or other locations to access DVLA services.

The Chief Executive of the DVLA, Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, also highlighted the Authority's efforts to strengthen the integrity and security of vehicle registration and licensing services through technology. He disclosed that the Authority's vehicle cloning detection technology had helped identify and impound about 200 vehicles within six weeks.

The commissioning ceremony was also attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, the District Chief Executive, traditional authorities and other stakeholders.

The establishment of the Asuogyaman DVLA office forms part of the Government's broader commitment to improving access to essential public services, reducing travel time and cost for citizens, and strengthening efficient, accessible and customer-centred service delivery across the country.