The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise to extend a driver’s license’s validity to 10 years. The GPRTU suggests that despite the good intentions behind this idea, it should not be prioritized immediately.

Dr. Bawumia believes the current system is inconvenient and senseless. Drivers are required by law to renew their licenses every two years. But the Vice President, speaking as part of his campaign tour at Akwatia in the Eastern Region, announced that the current system creates inconveniences for drivers and must be extended.

In response, Samuel Amoah, a member of the GPRTU’s national communications team, stated that drivers would prefer to have more pressing and essential matters handled over this pledge. He posited that they were not consulted on this matter, and the announcement lacks clarity.

Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline, he stated that the GPRTU had discussed certain concerns with the Vice President, including the high penalty drivers had to pay when their license renewal dates expired, as well as roadworthy certificates.

“We have no challenge over this pledge. However, it was our expectation that we would have been consulted. They should invite the leadership of the various transport unions and explain the details to us. We needed to have been consulted so we could also have an understanding of the initiative and communicate the same with our members.”

He asserted that it has become a major challenge that political leaders always want to introduce something new without consulting stakeholders.

“Stakeholder consultation is critical, and we don’t know the level of consultation between the government and the DVLA over this initiative he wants to introduce. What has been the level of consultation? If they had done that, we could have also submitted our opinions and suggestions. The two-year renewal is not much of a problem for drivers.

"The main issue is the cost and penalty for renewal. These are our issues. This is something positive, but you cannot implement it successfully without engaging the drivers and stakeholders. This is one major problem we have with our political leaders. They introduce policies without consultation or even engaging those who would be affected by them.”

He told host Kwabena Agyapong that they were prepared to engage the Vice President on the matter and also submit their proposals for consideration.

“We have several challenges we have complained about. I know the issue of fuel was not on the table for discussion, but I want to touch on that. We have appealed to the government to reduce taxes on fuel, especially the nuisance ones.

"We had also raised concerns over the penalty on renewal, among others.

"We are therefore of the opinion that you should have addressed these issues before introducing a new policy, which, excuse me, is only meant to excite drivers because we are going into an election. We don’t have any problem renewing our licenses. Our problem is the cost, the penalties, and the other issues I have raised.”