Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has impounded 40 vehicles at Tema Harbour after uncovering the use of fraudulent and improperly assigned Drive from Port (DP) stickers, in a move that highlights growing scrutiny of irregularities in the country’s vehicle import system.

The operation, carried out on the basis of intelligence, found that some vehicles bore counterfeit DP stickers, while others displayed authentic stickers that did not correspond with official records. Preliminary findings indicate the vehicles were imported by CFAO, though authorities say the discrepancies likely emerged during the clearing process.

According to the DVLA, evidence points to a third-party agent engaged to clear the vehicles who allegedly employed unauthorized methods, resulting in the mismatches.

The DP sticker system was introduced to replace aluminum DP plates as part of efforts to curb revenue leakage and strengthen oversight. Its rollout initially drove a surge in usage, with monthly issuance rising from roughly 2,000 stickers to about 15,000 in October 2025. More recently, however, officials observed a decline in issuance volumes at the ports, prompting concerns that led to the Tema operation.

The DVLA said it is working with National Security to investigate the matter and address fraudulent practices within the vehicle import and registration chain.

Authorities emphasized that maintaining accurate vehicle data from entry through registration is critical to road safety, traceability and transport policy enforcement. The agency also urged importers and industry participants to comply with regulations and strengthen internal checks as enforcement efforts intensify.

Source:TheDotNews