Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has announced plans to amend the Road Traffic Regulations of 2012 (L.I. 2180) to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the use of motorcycles and tricycles in commercial passenger services.

This announcement was made during the opening of the DVLA Mid-Year Review today, Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in Ejisu, under the theme "Resetting DVLA for an Efficient and Effective 24-Hour operation".

The minister, who was represented by his deputy at the event, stated that the proposed amendment aimed to formalise the commercial use of motorcycles and tricycles, which had become significant modes of transport in many regions of Ghana.

The revised regulations will require operators to undergo the necessary training and obtain commercial driving or riding licences before they can offer fare-paying services.

He emphasised that this initiative was part of the government’s efforts to enhance road safety standards, reduce the frequency of accidents, and regulate the operations of motorbike (okada) and tricycle riders within a monitored framework.

The minister also commended the DVLA for the yet-to-be-introduced security-enhanced number plates embedded with electronic chips, saying they fit international best standards. He, also, praised DVLA for their 24-hour operation.

For his part, the Deputy Chief Executive of the DVLA, Foster Akwasi Asante, indicated that DVLA had begun the mandatory registration of excavators and farm equipment at the Tema and Takoradi ports as part of efforts to combat illegal mining. 

He stated that this decision was part of a broader strategy to track and monitor heavy-duty machinery entering the country to ensure accountability and prevent the indiscriminate use of such equipment in environmentally destructive activities.

This exercise, which started this year, aligned with the government’s renewed commitment to fighting illegal mining and environmental degradation.