Ranking Member of the Transport Committee of Parliament, Kwame Governs Agbodza has condemned the decision of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to charge vehicle owners in the country for the provision of First Aid boxes.

Speaking on News Wire on Radio XYZ Wednesday night, the aggrieved Adaklu legislator described the act of charging about Adaklu GHC108 for the First Aid Boxes as illegal, urging the frustrated drivers and vehicle owners and the public not to pay for the kits.

Mr. Agbodza further asked the drivers to head to court if necessary, adding the mandate of the DVLA by law was to register of vehicles and not to sell First Aid boxes to vehicle owners.

“Charging the motoring public GHc 108 to buy a First Aid kit that they can buy on the street for GHc 10 or GHc 20 is out of context. What is in that? DVLA should be mindful of the fact that we all have the kits here. We can all see what they are trying to sell to the public. They are just trying to use it as a means of income generation which is not part of their mandate. They should stop it. It’s an illegality. I’m urging the drivers to go to court,” he stated.

The MP who is also the Minority Spokesperson for Roads and Transport, says just like the failed mandatory towing tax, this new charge should not be compulsory.

Drivers’ Agitation

Meanwhile, there has been growing agitation among the motoring public particularly new car owners over the matter. They have described it as government’s insensitivity towards the cost of running their vehicles since it assumed office.

Some aggrieved drivers who spoke to XYZ News’ Wisdom Hededzorme in Accra accused government of ‘robbing’ them.

“It is costly. Government told us that these things ended in the past government. we simply don’t understand why they bill us with unnecessary stuff. Why? this won’t help, 4 years will soon come and we’ll show this government,” one of them said.

Another frustrated man who had gone there to register his new vehicle said he bought some for less than GHc 50.00.

“I bought some last week at the cost of 30 cedis. The amount is too high,” he added.

DVLA response

Meanwhile, manager in charge of Public Relations at the DVLA, Francis Asamoah Tuffour justified the decision to XYZ News on Wednesday, saying the DVLA was not poor to resolve to fleece drivers and vehicle owners.

“Research that we’ve conducted indicates that about half of the vehicles we have in the country don’t have First Aid Kits. The slogan of DVLA is ‘Your safety is our concern.’ As an institution, we need to raise revenue for the state, but the safety of the drivers and occupants of the vehicle is our hallmark. So we are saying that we want to introduce this system so that the First Aid Kits will be in your vehicle so that in the event there’s a cut or accident or a minor injury, you can treat yourself before going to the hospital,” he said.