The Alliance of Drivers Ghana has endorsed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer’s recent promise to extend the validity of driver’s licences in the country to 10 years.

The Alliance says it will help Dr. Bawumia achieve this by campaigning for him.

Reacting to the promise by Dr. Bawumia in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, signed by the General Secretary of the Alliance, George Baafoa Owusu Afriyie, the group said: “We are extremely pleased to hear about this new initiative.”

“We pray that this promise will become a reality in Ghana’s history. It addresses a longstanding issue that drivers face regarding the renewal of their licenses,” the statement further noted.

“We are ready to campaign vigorously for Dr. Bawumia and the NPP. We will engage with our passengers and communities, going room to room, house to house, to spread the word about this promising development,” the Alliance added.

The Alliance added: “It is unbelievable to hear this promise today. Dr. Bawumia is truly listening to the concerns of drivers and demonstrates his commitment as the incoming president.”

Dr Bawumia is pushing for extensive reforms in the renewal process for driver’s licences.

Dr. Bawumia is proposing an extension of the current two-year renewal period to a more convenient 10 years.

Addressing chiefs and stakeholders in Boadua in the Akwatia Constituency of the Eastern Region, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the challenges faced by drivers under the current system, which requires licence holders to renew their documents every two years.

This regulation, enforced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), often leads to harassment of motorists by officials and law enforcement over non-renewal.

Criticising the current system as an unnecessary inconvenience, Dr. Bawumia stated: “Drivers are here. Today, the driver’s licence expires every two years. Let us extend it, be it 8 years or 10 years. Let us make sure you can have a driver’s licence without having to renew it every year.”

He added: “It does not make sense, and so by the grace of God, we would make changes.”