DVLA CEO Donates GH¢10,000 to 5-Year-Old Girl Found Selling Okro on Tamale–Yendi Highway

The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has earned praise after coming to the aid of a five-year-old girl who was found selling okro along the busy Tamale–Yendi Highway.

According to a social media post shared by social commentator Stephen Atubiga, the incident occurred in the Vittin area, where the young girl, identified as Mariama Alhassan, was seen carrying a pan of fresh okro on her head while attempting to cross the highway to sell the produce.

The post stated that the DVLA CEO, who was passing through the area, was moved by the child’s situation and stopped to speak with her. He reportedly asked where she was coming from and why she was selling at such a young age. However, the little girl was unable to clearly explain her circumstances.

Concerned for her safety and wellbeing, the DVLA CEO sought the assistance of a passerby to help trace the child’s home. Upon arriving at the residence, they met Mariama’s elder cousin, who explained that the girl’s father had died and that she had been selling okro after school to help support the family.

However, according to the account shared by Stephen Atubiga, there were doubts about whether the child was attending school regularly despite the family’s explanation.

Deeply touched by Mariama’s circumstances, the DVLA CEO reportedly donated GH¢10,000 to support her welfare. He also instructed the family to stop sending the five-year-old onto the streets to sell and pledged to monitor her progress to ensure she receives proper care, education, and the opportunity to enjoy a safe childhood.

The gesture has drawn widespread admiration on social media, with many users commending the DVLA CEO for intervening in the life of a vulnerable child and taking practical steps to support her future.

Sharing the story on his Facebook page, Stephen Atubiga applauded the intervention and expressed appreciation for the CEO’s generosity.

“Thank you Julius. As a northerner who knows the pain and struggles of our deprived Northern sectors, kindness like this means a lot. May God continue to bless you, brother,” Atubiga wrote.