Communications Minister halts crackdown on unlicensed courier riders
By Rebecca Okine
The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has suspended a police-led crackdown on unlicensed delivery riders, citing inadequate stakeholder consultation.
The suspension follows rising tensions within Ghana’s logistics and e-commerce sector, where many riders have complained that the licensing process is costly, poorly communicated, and difficult to access.
The enforcement drive, spearheaded by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) and the Ghana Police Service, sought to ensure compliance with the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act, 2003 (Act 649), which requires all courier operators, including individual riders, to be licensed.
Authorities argue that unlicensed operations evade taxes and undermine consumer protection and security.
To address this, the PCSRC recently partnered with AfCFTA Hub to digitise its registration process, a move intended to simplify licensing. However, several riders say they were unaware of both the requirements and the new platform.
In announcing the suspension, Mr George acknowledged the importance of regulation but criticised the manner in which it was enforced.
“As ministry having oversight over PCSRC, we fully endorse the regulation and licensing of the space. That is not in question. However, it appears as though the enforcement of the licensing has happened in a manner that does not suggest sufficient engagement with stakeholders,” he said.
The minister explained that this lack of engagement necessitated his directive.
“That is why the ministry has directed that they suspend the implementation, and I have called for stakeholder engagement,” he emphasised.
A stakeholder meeting is scheduled for 2 September, bringing together courier companies, one-man operators, the PCSRC, its board, the Ministry, and other actors in the delivery sector. The discussions are expected to establish a fair and broadly accepted regulatory roadmap.
Mr George stressed that the suspension does not mean the absence of regulation.
“We need to have a conversation that the law must be implemented in a serene manner, and that is simply what we are going to do,” he added
The ministry has reaffirmed government’s commitment to enforcing the law, but in a way that ensures fairness and protects the livelihoods of delivery riders, who play a vital role in Ghana’s fast-growing e-commerce ecosystem.
