About 500 stakeholders in the road transport industry from Ghana and other countries yesterday converged on Accra for the first ever International Driver and Vehicle Innovations Conference (IDVIC).
Organised by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on the theme “The future of road transport”, it served as a platform for discussion on how to leverage innovation to improve the sector.
Participants were made up of representatives of regulatory institutions, companies from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom and the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO).
The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, urged governments and citizenry to embrace innovation to improve transportation and sustainable growth.
He said the three main components of a good transport system; reliable roads, qualified drivers and safe vehicles, could no longer be managed with old processes and policies.
He said all the innovation in the global sector called for a new mindset and hence the need for changes to be made in policies and regulations to align with the status quo.
The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, said the government was reviewing existing laws and policies to accommodate the innovative changes ongoing in the sector.
He said the government and its partners were developing a National Policy to guide the uptake of electric vehicles in the country with the intention of promoting sustainable transport, energy security, economic benefits, improved urban air quality and public health.
Mr Asiamah said the government would continue to introduce interventions to improve the sector as efforts in recent times had helped to reduce road traffic fatalities by 11.27 per cent in August 2023 when compared to August 2022.
“The future of road transport is not a distant vision; it is a collective endeavour that starts with the policies we formulate today. Our commitment to innovation, reinvention, and sustainability will define how we navigate this road,” he said.
The DVLA Chief Executive, Kwasi Agyeman Busia, said the DVLA had rolled out innovative changes in the licensing regime including the use of smart cards because it was well aware of technical advancements ahead.
“The driver and vehicle licensing landscape is evolving with remarkable speed, from digital licenses and vehicle registration to automated testing and data-driven decision-making.
“To lead effectively in this environment, we must encourage our teams to explore new frontiers, experiment with emerging technologies, and remain agile in our response to evolving needs,” he said.
The DVLA Board Chairman, Frank Davies, urged all stakeholders to ensure that the driver and vehicle administration, and public service in general, was characterised by transparency, accountability, strategic leadership, and sustainability.
Some of the participating institutions mounted an exhibition of various innovations they had deployed to improve service delivery and customer experience in the sector.
The Focal Person of the WARSO, Lateef Amoni, said efforts were underway to harmonise driver and vehicle licensing, insurance and regulations to enhance transportation in the region.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
