Interior Minister warns against usage of chieftaincy crests as vehicle registration plates

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has raised concerns over a growing trend where some chiefs use their chieftaincy crests on vehicles instead of official registration plates, describing it as a serious security risk.

He stressed that under the constitution, only the President was permitted to drive a vehicle that was not officially registered.

The minister has, therefore, given such chiefs until the end of the first quarter of this year to register their vehicles or risk having them impounded.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak made this statement during the general meeting of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, held in Dodowa on February 26, 2025.

“Even the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice ensure their vehicles bear valid registration numbers. Unfortunately, we are seeing a worrying trend where some chiefs purchase vehicles, fail to register them, and simply place the crest of their paramountcy on them. This is a serious security risk because if such a vehicle is stolen and used for a crime, it would be nearly impossible to trace,” he explained.

He, therefore, urged traditional leaders to comply with the law, warning that once the deadline passed, authorities would strictly enforce the regulations without exceptions.

“We are in the first quarter, and I want to make this appeal—let us take steps to register all unregistered vehicles now. When enforcement begins, I do not want to be in a position where I have to instruct law enforcement to impound a chief’s vehicle. That would be unfortunate, but if the law has to be enforced, it will be enforced,” he cautioned.

The minister also announced plans to visit all 16 regions to engage traditional rulers on the matter, emphasising that once the grace period ends, full enforcement will begin.

He encouraged chiefs to take advantage of existing legal provisions that allow for customised registration numbers, noting that they could pay a special fee to acquire personalised plates while still complying with the law.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak urged the Regional Houses of Chiefs to take the matter seriously and ensure their members comply before the deadline to avoid unnecessary confrontations with law enforcement agencies.