Driver Documents You Must Carry in Ghana

Driving in Ghana without the correct documents is a traffic offence, even if the vehicle is in perfect condition and the driver is experienced. The Ghana Driver's Guide clearly states that a driver must be able to prove their legal authority to drive and operate a vehicle at any time.

Police and MTTD officers are legally empowered to request these documents during routine checks, at checkpoints, or after an incident.

5 Essential Documents to Always Carry

Every driver in Ghana must carry the original copies of these 5 documents at all times:

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1. Driver's Licence

Must be valid and appropriate for vehicle category (Type A-F)
Expired licences are treated as no licence
Foreign drivers: Valid International Permit + home license

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2. Vehicle Registration Certificate

Proves legal ownership and registration
Must match vehicle details (engine/chassis numbers)
Temporary registration is acceptable if valid

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3. Roadworthiness Certificate

Confirms vehicle passed DVLA inspection
Valid: 12 months (private), 6 months (commercial)
Includes Road Use Sticker for windshield display

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4. Motor Insurance Certificate

Minimum: Third-Party Insurance
Must be from licensed Ghanaian insurer
Digital platform drivers need appropriate ride-hailing coverage

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5. ECOWAS Brown Card (For cross-border travel only)

Required ONLY for travel outside Ghana within West Africa
Not needed for driving within Ghana
Obtained from insurance provider before travel

Digital Platform Drivers (Uber/Bolt)

Important Clarification:

No special commercial permits are required from DVLA for ride-hailing
Your private vehicle remains registered as private (Type B license)
Key requirement: Appropriate insurance coverage for ride-hailing activities
All standard 5 documents apply (License, Registration, Roadworthiness, Insurance)
Roadworthiness checks: Every 12 months (same as private vehicles)

⚠️ Insurance is Critical:

Standard private insurance may not cover ride-hailing. Consult your insurance provider to ensure you have proper coverage while driving on digital platforms.

Practical Tips for Ghanaian Drivers

Smart Document Management

Keep originals in vehicle: Always have originals in your car, not at home
Organize in document holder: Use a waterproof document holder to keep all papers together
Set renewal reminders: Mark calendar for insurance, roadworthiness, and licence renewals
Check expiration dates monthly: Make it part of your monthly vehicle check routine
Know renewal periods: Insurance (annual), Roadworthiness (private: 12 months, commercial: 6 months)
Make certified copies: Keep certified true copies at home as backup

Required Documents for Foreign Drivers in Ghana

Foreign drivers must carry these additional documents:

Valid International Driving Permit (IDP) along with home country licence OR a recognised foreign licence from certain countries
Valid Vehicle Registration from the country of origin (must match the vehicle)
ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance mandatory for entry into Ghana from other ECOWAS countries
Temporary Import Permit (C59/Laissez-Passer): Issued by Customs at the border. Valid for 30 days (first entry) or up to 90 days (subsequent entries). Driving with an expired permit is an offence.
Passport with valid entry stamp showing legal entry into Ghana
Vehicle Insurance from country of origin that provides coverage in Ghana

⚠️ Important for Foreign Drivers:

Foreign licences are typically valid for 90 days in Ghana. After this period, you must obtain a Ghanaian driver's licence. Rental cars from Ghanaian companies already have local registration and insurance.

Original Documents vs Photocopies

The Ghana Driver's Guide emphasizes that:

Original documents must be produced on request by authorities
Photocopies, pictures on phones, or scanned versions are not legally acceptable
Digital copies are only for your personal reference, not for legal proof

💡 Common Ghanaian mistake:

Many drivers assume showing a photo of their licence on a phone is enough — it is not. Police officers are trained to recognize and reject digital copies.

Responsibility to Produce Documents

When requested by Police, MTTD officers, or DVLA inspectors, a driver must:

Stop safely in a secure location
Remain calm, polite, and cooperative
Produce requested documents immediately from the vehicle
Keep hands visible and inform officer before reaching for documents

⚠️ Important 24-Hour Rule:

If documents are not in the vehicle at the time of the request, the law provides a grace period under ACT 683, Section 120(6): you must produce them at a designated police station within 24 hours. This is not an excuse to never carry your documents.

Important Legal Note:

"I forgot it at home" is not a legal defence — you must still produce documents within 24 hours. Failure to do so results in the same penalties as not having documents at all.

Consequences of Missing or Invalid Documents

Driving without valid documents may result in immediate and serious consequences:

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Substantial Fines

Up to 250 penalty units (approx. GHS 3,000) for offences like unregistered vehicle use or driving without a licence

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Vehicle Impoundment

Your vehicle may be seized and held at police pound until documents are produced. Daily storage fees apply.

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Arrest & Court

Arrest and court summons with possible imprisonment (up to 12 months) and permanent criminal record

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Licence Suspension

Suspension or revocation of driving licence for 6-12 months or permanent cancellation for repeat offences

Additional Consequences

Increased insurance premiums after offence recorded
Difficulty renewing documents with pending offences
Commercial drivers may lose their professional driving permit
Vehicle could be auctioned if not claimed within specified period
Affects visa applications for international travel with criminal record

Special Responsibility of Commercial Drivers

Commercial drivers (taxis, trotros, buses, trucks) have additional responsibilities:

Documents must be up to date at all times - more frequent checks apply
Operators may be held liable for driver's document offences
Repeated offences can lead to route bans or permanent licence withdrawal
Commercial vehicles require 6-month roadworthiness checks (vs 12 months for private)
Must display operator's permit and route authorization prominently
Passenger safety documentation must be available for inspection

Summary (Quick Revision)

📋 5 Essential Documents: Licence, Registration, Roadworthiness (+ sticker), Insurance, ECOWAS Card (if travelling)

🚗 Digital Platform Drivers: Same 5 documents. No special commercial permits needed.

🌍 Foreign Drivers: Add International Permit, Passport, Temporary Import Permit

📄 Originals Only: No photocopies, phone pictures, or scanned versions accepted

⏰ 24-Hour Rule: Grace period to produce missing docs at police station

⚖️ Severe Penalties: Fines, impoundment, arrest, licence suspension, criminal record

✅ Smart Practice: Keep originals in vehicle, use document holder, set renewal reminders

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Lesson 18 of 31 • Driver Documents

Driver Documents You Must Carry in Ghana

Driver Documents You Must Carry in Ghana

Substantial Fines

Vehicle Impoundment

Arrest & Court

Licence Suspension

Summary (Quick Revision)

Road Signs

Timed Test

Practice Test