As part of a series of reforms recently announced by Ghanaian road transport authorities, the focus is on modernizing driver’s licenses. According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the main goal of this update is to enhance the global recognition of these crucial documents for road safety.
The DVLA, which is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses and vehicle permits in Ghana, revealed that it will introduce new biometric documents in 2026, including International Driving Licenses (IDL) and International Vehicle Permits (IVP). The agency’s Director-General announced the initiative on Facebook, explaining that the reform aims to align Ghanaian documents with international standards to improve their acceptance abroad. The new licenses will include a biometric data page designed to fully meet the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The DVLA highlighted that current Ghanaian licenses are sometimes rejected by other countries. The reasons cited include their non-compliance with international standards and higher susceptibility to forgery. This situation poses a challenge, as it hinders cross-border mobility and limits overseas employment opportunities for Ghanaian drivers.
Across Africa, several regional blocs such as WAEMU, COMESA, the EAC, and SADC have already implemented unified licensing systems. In addition, mutual recognition agreements exist between some countries to simplify travel. Ghana’s upcoming reform could therefore require further adjustments within existing cross-border mobility arrangements.
