Julius Neequaye Kotey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), has proposed a novel approach to managing the persistent issue of ‘goro boys’—unofficial middlemen operating around DVLA offices. In a recent interview, Kotey advocated for formalizing their operations rather than continually combating them.

Kotey, speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, argued that integrating these informal agents into a regulated system would enhance efficiency and transparency in vehicle registration and licensing services. He emphasized that a structured approach would provide clarity and fairness in service charges, although not all current operators could be absorbed.

"Why don’t we regularize what they do?" Kotey questioned, highlighting the ineffectiveness of past efforts to eradicate them. "Because we have been fighting them for the past years, and the story is the same. Why don’t we bring them on board? I am not saying we need to employ all of them, but we have to bring them on board and regularize what they do."

Kotey envisions a system where these agents are trained and regulated, with clear boundaries on permissible charges. "So we tell them as an agent, you don’t charge beyond a certain amount. That is exactly what the ultra centre is doing," he explained, drawing a parallel to existing private entities that offer similar services at an additional cost.

He further illustrated his point by referencing the transformation of similar informal agents at Tema Harbour and Ghana Airport into formalized agents. Kotey questioned the logic of perpetually marginalizing these individuals when a structured system could benefit both the agents and the public.

Kotey also addressed concerns about potential exploitation, stating, "We are going to train them so we will be able to do away with what they do that we don’t agree with. There is going to be a clear-cut point on what they must do and what they cannot do, just like the way agents operate at the port."

Kotey's proposal aims to bridge the gap between the informal and formal sectors, ensuring that services are accessible while maintaining transparency and accountability. The initiative reflects a shift from punitive measures to a more inclusive and regulatory approach to address the longstanding issue of 'goro boys' at the DVLA.