Registering vehicles Togo style

How to register all 27 Mercy Ship vehicles in Togo:

Step 1: Fill in and submit three identical forms for each vehicle (using carbon paper: photocopies are not acceptable). Registration documents and new registration numbers are generated from these forms.

Step 2: 9.38am. Go to the Department of Transport, and collect the forms from the Chief of the Transport Division (very nice man by the way).

Step 3: 9.41am. This man fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 4: 9.58am. This man fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 5: 10.03. This man fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 6: 10.04am. This man fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 7: 10.07am. This man fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 8: 10.12am. A policeman fills a bit more in on the forms, and signs them:

Step 9: 10.14am. This man photocopies the forms:

Step 10: 10.18am. This man signs the photocopies:

Step 11: 10.21am. The policeman matches the photocopies with some other bits of paper:

Step 12: 10.25am: A man checks the chassis number on the vehicle, and signs the form:

Step 13: 10.33am. Another man confirms the work that the last guy just did:

Step 14: A lady generates another form on a computer:

Step 15: 10.43am. Now we're making progress. Mathieu removes #993's old Liberian licence plate.

Step 16: 11.03am. The new Togolese licence plate arrive, hot off the press:

Step 17: 11.08am. Rivet Man rivets the new plates to the vehicle. Nice:

Step 18: 11.14am. Awaiting an inspection of road worthiness:

Step 19: 11.16am. The vehicles go into a big shed for a high-tech inspection:

Step 20: 11.27am. Peter, Mathieu and Edam waiting nervously for the results:

Step 21: 11.51am. The examiner sticks the "pass" sticker in the window:

Step 22: 11.54am. We're done. Thumbs up all round:

Interestingly, all of our vehicles have passed the inspection so far, despite failing to reach the required standard by not having things like a First Aid Kit, or a defective reverse light. I wonder what it would take to actually fail the inspection.

A great morning out. You should try it some time. Honest. Olly