Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, has ordered the immediate suspension of the enforcement of courier licensing regulations after widespread protests by delivery riders.
The directive comes in response to a crackdown launched on Tuesday, August 20, by the Ghana Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission in collaboration with the Police. The exercise in Accra targeted unlicensed courier operators, leading to the arrest of several riders and the seizure of their motorbikes.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, August 21, the minister acknowledged that while the enforcement was aimed at sanitising the courier industry, its execution lacked adequate consultation.
“I have directed this afternoon an immediate halt to the ongoing enforcement action by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission. The action, in conjunction with the Ghana Police, is a necessary activity to bring some sanity and order to the use of motorbikes for delivery purposes as stipulated by law.
However, I believe the Commission needs to do more stakeholder engagements and public sensitisation before the enforcement activities commence,” he wrote.
Mr. George stressed that the law must be applied fairly and in a way that protects livelihoods. He announced plans to meet with courier industry stakeholders in the coming days to agree on a roadmap for proper implementation.
His intervention followed a petition presented earlier on Thursday by courier riders to the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale. The riders protested that the licensing fees were excessively high and discriminatory, noting that unlike Uber and Bolt drivers—who operate with only a driver’s license—they are required to secure additional permits at great cost.
“We cannot afford these charges. It is unfair and will push many of us out of work,” the petitioners said, warning that the enforcement could worsen youth unemployment and cripple the livelihoods of thousands of young people in the delivery sector.
The suspension is expected to pave the way for broader consultations between government, regulators, courier platforms, and riders on how to regulate the fast-growing sector without undermining jobs.
