DVLA sets May 4 deadline for arrest, prosecution of drivers with fake DV plates, DV stickers
The DVLA said the tougher approach follows weeks of enforcement during which officials, working with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, focused mainly on removing unlawful plates and stickers from vehicles.
Motorists and vehicle dealers using fake, forged or expired DV plates and DP stickers now face arrest and prosecution from Monday, 4 May 2026, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has announced.
The DVLA said the tougher approach follows weeks of enforcement during which officials, working with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, focused mainly on removing unlawful plates and stickers from vehicles.
But the Authority says some users have continued to ignore the directive, prompting a shift from warnings and seizures to criminal enforcement.
In a statement issued on Friday, 17 April 2026, the DVLA said anyone found with forged 2026 DV plates, expired 2025 DV plates or expired DP stickers after the deadline will be dealt with under the law.
The Authority explained that its earlier notice, issued on 19 March 2026, had already signalled the beginning of a crackdown, with the first phase of enforcement starting on 24 March.
According to the DVLA, Regulation 23(11) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, makes it unlawful to possess or use fake or forged trade licences, including DV and DP identification materials.
The new directive, it said, is intended to improve compliance, protect the credibility of vehicle registration records and enhance public safety.
The Authority is therefore urging all affected vehicle users to regularise their documentation before the May 4 deadline.
The background to the latest action lies partly in reforms to the DP system. The DVLA introduced DP stickers to replace the old aluminium DP plates as part of efforts to plug revenue leakages. Following that change, the number of DP stickers issued reportedly rose sharply, from about 2,000 a month to roughly 15,000 in October 2025.
However, officials say a subsequent drop in sticker issuance at the ports raised suspicion and triggered further investigations, which eventually led to the current enforcement campaign.
With the deadline now fixed, the Authority says the next phase will be stricter, and that offenders risk not just having their plates removed, but being arrested and taken to court.
