By Laudia Sawer, GNA
Tema, July 11, GNA – The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has disclosed that it has significantly improved its image by eliminating the ‘Corruption Tag Opinion,’ the public used associated its staff with.
Mr Benjamin Peh, DVLA Acting Head of Research, Business Development and Innovation said the authority as a manifestation of the new image had picked-up about 25 awards from 2017 to date.
Mr Peh speaking at the fourth edition of the monthly: “GNA-Tema Stakeholder Engagement and Workers’ Appreciation Day,” seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Tema Region, acknowledged some notable awards from two major anti-corruption institution: Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and IMANI Ghana.
He said the awards from GII and IMANI were a vote of confidence verdict that DVLA had successfully improved its image and warded off the corruption perception “these anti-corruption companies all believe that DVLA is now a changed institute.
“Prior to the coming into office of Mr Kwasi Agyeman Busia our current Chief Executive, people only see corruption when the name of DVLA is mentioned, some even thought that corruption is what staff only survived on, but now DVLA has a good image in the public domain”.
According to Mr Peh, the image reformation formed part of six-pillar initiatives of Mr Agyeman Busia which included: Service optimization through technology; research development; customer focus service; human and capital development; financial management; and sustainability.
He said as part of the image rebranding, the DVLA adopted transparent system of operation and tightened its networks to prevent middlemen popularly known as ‘goro boys’ from infiltrating.
He said as part of the new measures, DVLA staff do not undertake cash transactions on its behalf, as banks had been attached to its offices to collect payment for services.
He also said its processes had been simplified to reduce the number of days and hours it took to acquire licenses or renewal and replacement adding that most of its services had also been digitized making it possible for customers to generate invoice online at the DVLA’s website before visiting the office for continuation.
Giving a brief on the mandate of the DVLA, he said the Authority was established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament, Act 569, which authorized it to among other things promote good driving standard and ensure the use of road worthy vehicles on the road.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager commended the DVLA for the noble achievements, and encouraged other public institutions to project their accomplishment; “there is nothing wrong with touting company’s significant milestones.
“GNA-Tema Regional Office has therefore created the monthly stakeholder engagement which is a progressive platform to give opportunity to state and non-state actors to interact with journalists to address national issues and throw more light on the organization’s mandate while deepening a cordial relationship with the media”.
Mr Ameyibor urged institutions to move away from the backseat of information transmission wagon, but join the front seat and drive information flow from their companies transparently.
“If you don’t tell your good stories, the media will tell your stories for you, then you have to come and defend. Let’s be proactive and collaborate with the media for national development. The media is not a weapon to destroy anyone or company but lack of transparency, will kill your company”.
