The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has received an Iveco S-Way heavy goods vehicle (HGV) training truck from TransAid UK, to strengthen professional driver training and enhance the assessment of heavy goods vehicle drivers in Ghana.

The symbolic handover ceremony, held at DVLA Head Office, brought together officials of the Authority, representatives of TransAid, development partners and key stakeholders in the transport sector.

The Chief Executive of DVLA, Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, expressed appreciation to TransAid UK for the generous donation and reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to improve road safety through quality driver training. He stressed that road safety cannot be improved through policy statements alone but by equipping institutions with the right tools. Describing the truck as an operational commitment rather than a ceremonial gesture, he assured TransAid that the vehicle would be properly maintained and fully utilised to strengthen the Authority's training and assessment capacity and produce measurable results.

The Director for Driver Training, Testing and Licensing (DTTL), Mr. Kafui Semevo, described the donation as a significant milestone in the Authority's efforts to improve heavy goods vehicle driver training and road safety. He said the truck would support the practical training of instructors, examiners and prospective drivers, while enhancing competency-based driver assessment.

He commended TransAid for its longstanding partnership with DVLA, noting that in 2024, TransAid, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ghana, developed Ghana's first Heavy Goods Vehicle Driver Training Curriculum and Instructor's Manual. He further disclosed that TransAid is currently collaborating with the Authority to train selected heavy goods vehicle driving examiners and develop a training curriculum and instructor's manual for motorcycle rider training.

The Representative of TransAid, Madam Thelma Ayisi, noted that the donation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana's professional driver training and licensing regime. She noted that since 2021, the partnership has developed standard training materials, trained driver trainers and thousands of professional drivers and delivered road safety sensitisation activities across the country. She explained that the donated truck would serve as a dedicated vehicle for examiner training and the practical assessment of F-Class licence applicants, helping to ensure fair, consistent and competency-based driver licensing.

The ceremony saw a symbolic handover of the truck, reaffirming the strong partnership between DVLA and TransAid to advance professional driver development, strengthening the licensing system and improving road safety in Ghana.