Thirteen employees of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) have been placed on interdiction, while three others have had their employment terminated due to violations of staff discipline, as disclosed by the Chairman of the authority's Board, Frank Davies.

Davies emphasized the Board's commitment to holding accountable anyone who breaches the authority's code of conduct.

He called upon all staff members to uphold exemplary conduct and strive for behavior that sets a positive example for others.

While acknowledging the DVLA's commendable progress in optimizing services and reducing processing times, Davies highlighted persisting challenges such as delays in printing driving licenses, certain staff members' attitudes, increasing incidents of indiscipline, and unbecoming behavior.

Davies made these remarks during the launch of the 25th anniversary celebration and the commencement of the 2023 mid-year review conference in Sunyani, located in the Bono Region, last week. The event's theme was centered around "Delivering quality service through optimization: A solution to solidify our achievements."

Addressing the DVLA staff, Davies urged them to seek innovative solutions to enhance their processes and service delivery.

He underscored the importance of embracing technological advancements and exploring emerging trends to promote road safety and environmental sustainability in alignment with international best practices.

Davies challenged the staff to view challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation.

He assured the audience of the DVLA's dedication to establishing a customer-centric organization that remains at the forefront of technological progress.

The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene, commended the DVLA for its efforts in improving its operations, including reducing delays and instances of extortion.

She encouraged the DVLA to digitize the process of renewing driving licenses and vehicle registrations, envisioning a future where patrons could renew their licenses and registrations conveniently through technology from the comfort of their homes.

Owusu-Banahene also raised concerns about the roadworthiness of certain vehicles, particularly older heavy-duty trucks, which sometimes caused traffic disruptions. She emphasized the importance of integrity, excellence, professionalism, and reliability as core values for the DVLA.

Kwasi Agyeman Busia, the Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, advocated for the adoption of electric vehicles to usher in a new era of environmentally-friendly transportation. He stressed that promoting energy-efficient vehicles would mitigate the negative impact of fossil fuels on both human health and the environment.

Busia noted that ongoing efforts were underway to evaluate and redefine roles within the organization to ensure equitable and credible salary restructuring, as the current salary grading had been in place since 2016.

Furthermore, George Okyere, the Bono Regional Manager of the DVLA, highlighted the significant progress the organization had achieved over the past decade.

He acknowledged that emerging challenges, evolving customer dynamics, and technological advancements presented opportunities and threats, necessitating a strategic review to enhance DVLA's operations.