The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to introduce compulsory structured training for all motorcycle riders before they can obtain a driver’s licence, as part of broader reforms aimed at improving road safety.
The Director of Driver Training, Testing, and Licensing at the DVLA, Kafui Semevo, explained that the initiative is part of planned amendments to Legislative Instrument 2180, designed to strengthen driver training and licensing standards.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary launch of Toptech Transport and Logistics on Thursday, March 19, Semevo noted that the authority has already begun collaborating with the Ghana TVET Service to train and certify motorcycle riding instructors in preparation for the reforms.
“There are some reforms that will be taking place as soon as the LI.2180 is successfully amended. And as a driver training institution, we are encouraging all other training institutions to start preparing themselves for the changes.
“We’ll actually engage them, but there are a few things that they will have to take note of. One is that it is going to be compulsory for all motorcycle riders to undergo structured training before they can obtain a driver’s license.
“So it is time for us to start to prepare the schools for that reform. We actually started two years ago, when we collaborated with the Ghana TVET Service to train and certify some riding instructors.
“We just published two days ago for another intake of persons interested in becoming instructors to also apply. And it’s a continuous process. So we are encouraging all driving schools to take the opportunity and prepare themselves,” he stated.
Semevo added that once the law is amended, it will also be easier for applicants to obtain higher-category driver’s licences.
“The other thing that will happen is that once the law is amended, it will be possible for persons to apply for a higher category license, such as a category D or F license, for the first time,” he said.
He further highlighted the DVLA’s collaboration with Transaid UK and Scania to develop curricula for higher-category licences and to introduce a more secure vehicle registration and number plate system.
“We are again collaborating with the schools to make sure that the training schools that will handle the training will be required for this category of drivers. We have already, in collaboration with TransAid UK, developed curriculum and training manuals for that programme. So what we are doing now is to train and certify persons who will be the instructors.”
