CEO of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority formalising operations of informal agents

The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has proposed formalising the operations of the numerous informal agents [unofficial middlemen], popularly known as ‘goro boys’, who hang around the various DVLA offices across the country and offer to facilitate vehicle registration and licensing services for individuals.

In a radio interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday morning [April 1, 2025], Mr Neequaye Kotey argued that it was better for the government to integrate the ‘goro boys’ into a regulated system to improve efficiency and transparency in the licensing process instead of fighting to get rid of these informal agents,

He indicated that while not all informal operators could be absorbed into the system, a structured approach could provide clarity and fairness in service charges.

“Why don’t we regularise what they do? Because we have been fighting them for the past years, and the story is the same. Why don’t we bring them on board? I am not saying we need to employ all of them, but we have to bring them on board and regularise what they do.

So we tell them as an agent, you don’t charge beyond a certain amount. That is exactly what the ultra centre is doing.

“We are going to train them so we will be able to do away with what they do that we don’t agree with. There is going to be a clear-cut point on what they must do and what they cannot do, just like the way agents operate at the port,” he said that on the Citi FM breakfast show.

He said the Ultra Centre is private owned and “they also engage in services of DVLA and then put extra GH¢100 charge on it. That extra GH¢100 charge they give DVLA GH¢20 and then the Ultra Centre, the owner keep GH¢80, so what is the difference between the goro boy and what the Ultra Centre is doing.”

“When you go to Tema Harbour, there were once goro boys, today they are agents. When you go to Ghana Airport, there were once goro boys, today they are agents, are we going to put all these boys back on the streets, then what happens, why don’t we regularise what they do. Because for the past years, we’ve been fighting them and the story is the same.

“Why don’t you bring them onboard. I’m not saying I’m going to employ all of them, bring them on board, make sure we regularise what they do, so Mr ‘A’, we have all charges of DVLA, you are not going to charge above this when you help someone to undertake his job, that is exactly what the Ultra Centre is doing. We can’t just always use language, words to separate the rich from the poor,” he told the radio station.