Government to Clamp Down on Unregistered Chieftaincy Crest Vehicles

Authorities are set to crack down on the growing trend of traditional rulers replacing official vehicle registration plates with chieftaincy crests.

This follows concerns raised by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, who described the practice as a serious security risk. He emphasized that under the Constitution, only the President was permitted to use a vehicle without an official registration number.

Speaking at the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs general meeting in Dodowa last Wednesday, Mr. Muntaka issued a deadline for compliance, warning that all chiefs using unregistered vehicles must properly register them by the end of March or risk having them impounded.

Legal Implications

Regulation 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180) mandates that all motor vehicles must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and display the assigned number plates. The law does not provide exemptions for chiefs or traditional authorities to substitute registration plates with chieftaincy crests.

The minister stressed that such practices not only violate L.I. 2180 but also pose a security threat.

“Even the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice ensure their vehicles are properly registered. Yet, some chiefs are acquiring vehicles, skipping the registration process, and simply affixing their crests. If such a vehicle is stolen and used for a crime, tracking it would be nearly impossible,” Mr. Muntaka warned.

Strict Enforcement After Deadline

The minister urged traditional leaders to comply with the law before the deadline, stating that authorities would strictly enforce the regulations once the grace period expired.

“We are still in the first quarter of the year, so I appeal to all traditional rulers to take steps now to register their vehicles. When enforcement begins, I do not want to be in a position where I have to order the impoundment of a chief’s vehicle. That would be regrettable, but the law must be enforced,” he said.

Engagement with Traditional Leaders

To ensure widespread compliance, Mr. Muntaka announced plans to visit all 16 regions to engage with traditional rulers on the issue. He also highlighted legal alternatives, stating that chiefs could opt for customized registration numbers by paying a special fee while still adhering to DVLA regulations.

He called on Regional Houses of Chiefs to take the matter seriously, encouraging them to ensure their members comply before the deadline to avoid unnecessary confrontations with law enforcement agencies.