The Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, has been recognized among the Top 20 Transformational Leaders of the Year (Smart Transport Category) at the prestigious ESG & Sustainability Awards and Technovation Awards, organized by Global Ovations in Accra.

The recognition places Mr. Kotey among a distinguished group of African leaders whose work is advancing sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth across the continent. The high-level awards ceremony brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, finance, technology, energy, manufacturing and civil society to celebrate excellence in environmental stewardship, social impact, governance and digital transformation.

In addition to the individual recognition conferred on the DVLA Chief Executive, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority was also awarded the Driving Excellence in Smart Transport Reform Award, in recognition of its ongoing reforms aimed at modernising vehicle administration, strengthening regulatory compliance and leveraging technology to improve road safety and service delivery.

Speaking on the purpose of the awards, the Convenor of Global Ovations, Mr. Gideon Raji, noted that the initiative was deliberately designed to go beyond symbolic recognition. According to him, the focus is on celebrating leaders and institutions demonstrating measurable impact, transformational leadership and sustainable innovation, particularly those embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into their core operations rather than treating them as peripheral initiatives.

Mr. Raji further explained that the ESG & Sustainability Awards and the Technovation Awards are positioned as a continental benchmark, encouraging African institutions to align technological innovation with responsible governance, climate resilience, digital inclusion and social impact.

The recognition of Mr. Kotey reflects the DVLA’s ongoing efforts to position sustainability and innovation at the centre of transport regulation and service delivery in Ghana. Under his leadership, the Authority has pursued reforms focused on digital transformation, institutional efficiency and enhanced stakeholder engagement, contributing to safer roads and improved public trust.