The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has suspended the planned rollout of the new vehicle number plates scheduled to take effect from January 2, 2026.
The announcement was made by Julius Neequaye Kotey, Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, at a press conference held in Accra on Tuesday, December 24, 2025.
The suspension follows delays in securing parliamentary approval for the new registration process.
A proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180), which outlines the content and format of vehicle number plates in Ghana, is still before Parliament and has not yet been approved.
In a press statement dated December 24, 2025, the DVLA explained that although Parliament passed amendments to the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), the related provisions under L.I. 2180 were not considered before Parliament went on recess on Friday, December 19, 2025.
“Until the legislative requirements are fully settled, we are unable to proceed with the rollout of the new RFID-embedded licence plates,” the DVLA said.
The DVLA had earlier announced in August 2025 plans to remove the year of registration from vehicle number plates beginning January 2, 2026.
Since January 2009, Ghana has used a number plate system featuring a two-letter regional code, a four-digit numerical identifier, and a two-digit year of registration.
Under the proposed new system, vehicles were to be identified by the region of registration written in full at the top of the plate—such as “Greater Accra”—followed by a unique four-digit number and a zone code indicating where the vehicle was registered.
For instance, a vehicle registered within the Adenta zone of the Greater Accra Region would carry the code “AD” at the end of the four-digit number, replacing the year code, such as “25.”
The new plates were also expected to incorporate Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enhance vehicle traceability and support electronic tolling systems.
DP and DV plates from January 2, 2026
The DVLA has clarified that vehicles currently using DP (Drive from Port) stickers and DV (Defective Plate) numbers will be allowed to continue using them into 2026 until further notice.
Owner”s of vehicles with DP stickers [Drive from Port] and DV plates [Defective Plate] may continue using them until a time limit is communicated by the Authority,” the statement added.
