The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will begin arresting and prosecuting motorists caught with forged 2026 DV plates, expired 2025 DV plates, or fake DP stickers starting May 4, 2026, the Authority has announced.
Speaking at a press briefing, Director of Vehicle Inspection and Registration, Kwasi Bona Otua Seribuo, said enforcement will be intensified because “non compliance remains widespread” despite months of warnings and roadside checks.
“Earlier enforcement efforts focused primarily on removing non compliant plates and stickers and encouraging corrective actions. It is evident that non compliance remain widespread,” Mr. Seribuo said. “This time round, we will not take the plate from you and expect you to go and get another one, because non compliance seems to be enjoyed.”
In December 2025, DVLA announced a temporary extension for 2025 DV plates and DP stickers. In February 2026, the Authority released the 2026 DV plates, which meant the 2025 plates were no longer valid. But many motorists continued using expired plates and stickers, prompting enforcement operations from March 24, 2026, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
Between March 2024 and April 16, 2026, DVLA inspected 707 vehicles across three zones. The Tema office recorded 187 inspections with “relatively higher compliance,” including 78 vehicles with original 2026 DV plates. The Adentan office recorded 338 inspections, with 148 vehicles using expired 2025 DV plates or forged 2026 DV plates. The Narman office recorded 181 inspections and had the highest number of expired DP stickers in use.
Operations at Tema Port this April led to the seizure of about 40 vehicles with fake or forged DP stickers.
“A key concern arising from this exercise is the prevalence of forged plates,” Mr. Seribuo said. In total, 165 vehicles were found using forged 2026 DV plates from just the Narman, Adentan, and Tema offices. “Approximately 31% of all the vehicles we inspected were having forged DV plates,” he noted.
Effective May 4, 2026, the DVLA compliance team, together with the MTTD, will arrest and prosecute individuals operating vehicles with 2025 DV plates, forged 2026 DV plates, or expired/fake DP stickers.
“We wish to emphasize that these measures are grounded in law,” Mr. Seribuo added, thanking the media for partnering with the Authority to inform and educate the public.
