The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that its planned introduction of a new vehicle number plate system in 2026 will help curb smuggling and prevent the registration of vehicles that evade import duties.
The move follows recent cases of cars smuggled into the West African sub-region, particularly Ghana.
In May 2025, an INTERPOL-led operation, “Safe Wheels,” dismantled a major vehicle trafficking network in West Africa, detecting about 150 stolen vehicles and seizing over 75 across 12 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. The two-week exercise also launched 18 new investigations and uncovered two organised crime syndicates. Most of the vehicles were trafficked from Canada, with others stolen from France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
DVLA Chief Executive Officer, Julius Neequaye Kotey, in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, August 25, 2025, said the new plates will be fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and linked directly to a central database, making it impossible to register “Togo cars” or vehicles brought into the country without proper documentation.
“The new system will ensure that every vehicle can be authenticated against our database. This way, smuggled cars or those that have avoided the payment of duties cannot slip through the cracks,” he explained.
According to the DVLA, the plates form part of broader reforms to tighten vehicle regulation and modernise Ghana’s transport sector. The RFID feature will also support law enforcement in tracking stolen vehicles or cars involved in criminal activity.
Beyond security, the DVLA noted that the plates will enable seamless toll collection in the future, as the embedded chip will allow for automated and contactless payments at toll booths. The new plates will also replace the year of registration with a regional code, making it easier to identify a vehicle’s origin. Other safety features include a reflective surface for better visibility at night and in poor weather conditions.
Mr. Kotey stressed that although rollout is set for 2026, the design and security specifications are still under review to ensure the system meets both national and international standards.
“This is about more than just plates — it is about creating a secure, transparent, and modern vehicle management system that benefits both motorists and the general public,” he added.
