The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) is considering the implementation of a web-based Vehicle Registration and Management Systems (VRMS) to ensure optimum revenue mobilisation and improve road safety.
The ultimate target of the VRMS initiative is to improve road safety, ensure efficient revenue collection and create jobs for the youth.
When completed, the web-based platform will be installed on a 3-tier data system, with a replicating site for disaster recovery that will be to connected to stakeholders such as the Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS), insurance companies and Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Other stakeholders to be connected are the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), National Identification Authority, financial institutions, Motor Courts, and the Ghana Immigration Service.
However, Traffic Management expert Samuel Oppong, has revealed that a new national database system through a digital readable vehicle number-plate will be required, in order to enable the DVLA acquire a credible database for successful implementation of the system.
Speaking to the media over the weekend, he indicated that deploying such as system in the case of Ghana’s vehicle registration can be achieved through the use of improved automated systems.
“The VRMS deployment will be done through a dedicated Local Area Networks (LAN) at all DVLA and PVTS Centres through a Wide Area Network (WAN) leveraging on infrastructure that the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has already provided nationwide.
“The connection to all major stakeholders will be done through a secured VPN using the appropriate encryption and other security tools to protect and secure data. The data collected will be used to generate the appropriate number-plate for vehicles using the VRMS,” he emphasised.
In addition, he narrated that having established the connection to all major stakeholders, the DVLA will do a re-registration of all vehicles and owners/drivers of vehicles using the vehicle registration documents, all receipts from the GRA, roadworthy certificate from the PVTS, insurance cover notes, national IDs of owner/driver of vehicle and service charge receipts from DVLA.
Mr. Oppong indicated that deploying the system will ensure the creation of an automatic toll payment system, which will drastically reduce the long queues of traffic at toll booths.
“The outcome of the re-registration exercise will result in easy tax determination and collection, proper and accurate data on vehicle inspection, number-plate authentication, and accurate information on the number and types of vehicles in the country for planning purposes,” he noted.
Furthermore, he recommended that to ensure a successful and complete implementation of the proposal more PVTS should be licenced across the country, taking into consideration the creation of additional regions and districts.
Mr. Oppong also suggested that speed-cameras that can communicate with the vehicle’s number-plates be installed to generate all registration information pertaining to the vehicle.
In addition, he is of the view that the insurance companies of all traffic offenders can also be surcharged with the fines directly and instantly for clients to be billed in turn for refund. This policy, he reiterated, would ensure that regular or reckless traffic offenders will not have any insurance company to cover their risks – ultimately reducing accidents on roads.
