The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has disclosed that 4,896 driver's licence applicants were denied licences in 2025 after failing mandatory eye examinations, highlighting concerns about the impact of poor vision on road safety in Ghana.

According to data released by the authority, a total of 251,117 commercial and private drivers underwent compulsory eye screening nationwide during the year.

Out of the number screened, 218,471 applicants, representing 87 per cent, passed the tests on their first attempt. However, 32,645 individuals initially failed due to various eye conditions.

The DVLA said 24,483 of those who failed were later cleared to drive after receiving medical treatment or obtaining prescribed corrective lenses. Despite these interventions, 4,896 applicants remained unable to meet the required visual standards and were subsequently denied licences.

The screenings identified several vision-related conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, refractive errors and complications associated with hypertension.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Director for Driver Training, Testing and Licensing at the DVLA, Kafui Semevo, said the screening exercise had helped many drivers discover underlying eye conditions for the first time.

He noted that the enforcement of Regulation 29 of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2180 remains an important measure in reducing preventable road crashes and improving road safety.

According to him, drivers whose vision impairments could not be corrected had their licences revoked in accordance with the law, while those with treatable conditions had their licences suspended until they obtained medical clearance.

Mr. Semevo also revealed that discussions were ongoing regarding drivers identified as having "single vision," a condition highlighted in a survey conducted by the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Under proposals being considered, individuals with the condition may be allowed to operate private vehicles but would be restricted from driving commercial vehicles.

The DVLA is currently collaborating with the University of Cape Coast and the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA) to assess the impact of the eye-care reforms on road safety outcomes.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent of Police Dr. Remi Ninkpe, Coordinator of the DVLA-GOA Eye Care Reforms Project, advised drivers against self-medication and the use of unprescribed glasses, warning that such practices could worsen eye conditions and increase risks on the roads.

The eye-screening programme forms part of broader efforts by the DVLA to ensure that only medically fit individuals are licensed to drive, as authorities seek to reduce avoidable road crashes and improve safety nationwide.