Director of Industrial Relations of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Alhaji Abass Imoro has urged the Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to implement the proposed extension of driver’s license renewal term immediately if he is genuinely committed to it.
Speaking in an interview with Kwadwo Safah-Danquah on the Happy Morning Show, Alhaji Imoro compared this to overseas practices where driver’s licenses are typically valid for a lifetime unless a change in weight necessitates a new test, after which the license is updated if the person qualifies.
“So if the Vice President has realized that we can do it eight or tens years, we drivers, we can welcome it but we have two questions to ask him,” he said.
He expressed skepticism about the Vice President’s proposal, citing instances where his government changed the driver’s license three times and each time charged fees. He questioned whether the suggested 8 to 10-year renewal term would be free or come with additional conditions.
He pointed out that the commercial driver’s license was initially yellow, then changed to wine and now there is a new design that requires renewal every two years at a fee.
He urged the vice President to act promptly, and not until after the 2024 elections.
He emphasized that, given the Vice President’s position as the second highest office holder in the country, he should leverage his authority to implement this change now.
He noted that Parliament, where members are drivers, own cars and renew their licenses every two years, would likely approve the proposal swiftly.