Transport Ministry halts DVLA mandatory levy for first aid kit

The Ministry of Transport has instructed management of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), to immediately halt mandatory charges for First Aid kits.

Deputy Transport Minister, Titus Glover, told Accra-based Citi FM that the DVLA has been duly informed.

“Let me put it on record that the Ministry of Transport is not aware of the sale, because if there should be any major decision, the management needs to discuss with the board of DVLA, and it’s also on record that the board is not aware of the sale.

“So we were all taken unawares when this issue came up, so what we intend doing, is to invite the Chief Executive of the DVLA and his team to the Ministry,” he said

The DVLA this week introduced the compulsory charge of GHS108 for the acquisition of First Aid Kits for new vehicle owners seeking to register their vehicles.

This decision has been met with stiff opposition from vehicle owners, who argue that they reserve the right to purchase such items by themselves at a cheaper cost.

The Minority in Parliament subsequently registered its opposition to the charges and called for it to be halted.

Titus Glover said the DVLA needed to have engaged its stakeholders properly before introducing the policy.

“The choice is the driver’s; they have to walk into any shop and buy their own First Aid Kits. If the drivers in my constituency want to use any First Aid Box they can walk into Community One and just grab one and pay for it.

“You must have the right to express yourself on the price, but where you force it down the throat of the drivers; they can resist it because first of all, there has not been any proper engagement and this is a New Year. They have to halt it because this is a national security matter. If the drivers decide to lay down their tools, it will become a problem for all of us” he said.

The DVLA had early on defended the decision to charge vehicle owners for the provision of First Aid boxes.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the DVLA, Francis Asamoah Tuffour, said the introduction of the levy was necessary to ensure the safety of road users.

Source: Myjoyonline