The Ashanti Regional Director of the Drivers Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Inj. Amos Abeka, has announced that effective September 1, this year, all persons who acquire a driver’s license must go through an eye test from accredited eye care centres.
He explained that the exercise, which comes under Phase Two of the Eye Test Reform as part of requirements for the issuance of drivers licensing, is in conformity with the 2012 Road Regulations, which mandates every driver to undergo eye testing before one could drive.
According to him, the management of the DVLA has partnered the Ghana Optometrist Association to ensure that the exercise is successfully implemented. The DVLA head hoped the exercise would help to improve the sight of drivers and help maintain safety on the roads.
Mr. Kafui Semevo, Director of Training, Testing and Licensing at the DVLA, disclosed that since the beginning of the exercise in June this year, over 14,000 drivers had been tested and the results indicated that most of them (drivers) had cataract, an infection which could lead to blindness.
Mr. Semevo, however, explained that the reform was not meant to victimise drivers on the roads, but aimed at helping to improve the sight of some drivers who had problems with their sight, and help to reduce road crashes or accidents.
He hinted that some centres had been selected for the exercise under the DVLA and Ghana Optometrist Association collaboration.
Dr. Remi Ninkpe, President of the Ghana Optometrists Association (GOA), said the involvement of his outfit in the exercise was to ensure the professional way of conducting eye testing for drivers.
