The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has clarified that the alleged GH¢308,000 involved in a media report on theft does not belong to the Authority and was not stolen from the DVLA or any of its accounts.
In a statement issued on July 7, the DVLA said the matter under investigation is a personal dispute involving an individual who happens to be a former National Service Person assigned to the Authority and currently on contract. The Authority stated that at no point has it suffered any financial loss in relation to the case.
"While the individual is attached to DVLA, the alleged offence is not connected to the operations, finances, or official activities of the Authority but rather two different individuals. It is therefore inaccurate and misleading to portray the incident in a manner that suggests the Authority was the victim of the alleged theft," the statement read.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability and said it has confidence in the due process of the law and will cooperate fully with the police should the need arise.
The DVLA urged media houses and the public to exercise restraint and accuracy in reporting on the matter to avoid creating the erroneous impression that public funds belonging to the Authority had been misappropriated. The Authority assured the public that its financial systems remain secure and that its operations continue uninterrupted.
Background
A National Service Person attached to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has been accused of stealing GH¢308,300 through unauthorised Mobile Money transactions and using the money to purchase a car, furniture, and pay his rent.
Ebenezer Ghartey pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing when he appeared before the Accra Circuit Court. The court admitted him to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties and ordered him to report to the case investigator every Monday and Friday until further orders. The case has been adjourned to August 4, 2026.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, an Administrative Officer at the DVLA under whose supervision Ghartey was serving, detected an unauthorised withdrawal of GH¢3,000 from her MTN merchant account on May 22, 2026. She subsequently obtained transaction records from MTN, which allegedly identified Ghartey as the recipient of the transfer.
Further examination of transactions covering the period from March 31 to May 20, 2026, allegedly revealed that a total of GH¢308,300 had been transferred from the complainant's merchant account to Ghartey's Mobile Money account. The matter was reported to the Cantonments Police, leading to his arrest.
During investigations, Ghartey told the Police that "he was not on salary" and used the stolen money to pay his rent. He also purchased a Hyundai Elantra saloon car, a Samsung 50-inch television set, a set of furniture, an air conditioner, a floor carpet, a dining table and chairs, a washing machine, and a television rack and frame. The prosecution also stated that he used part of the money to pay his sibling's school fees.
In his caution statement, Ghartey admitted committing the offence, the prosecution told the court.
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