The Minister of Communications, Digital Expertise and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has suspended a police-led crackdown on unlicensed supply riders.
This follows a name for a extra consultative strategy to the regulation of Ghana’s booming logistics and e-commerce sector.
The suspension comes as frustrations boil over amongst supply riders, lots of whom declare the licensing course of is simply too pricey and lacks correct communication.
The enforcement, spearheaded by the Postal and Courier Companies Regulatory Fee (PCSRC) and the Ghana Police, was supposed to make sure compliance with the Postal and Courier Companies Regulatory Fee Act, 2003 (Act 649).
The laws mandates that each one courier operators, together with particular person riders, should be licensed to function.
Unlicensed operators not solely evade taxes but in addition pose potential shopper safety and safety dangers.
The PCSRC has lately moved to digitise its registration course of via a partnership with AfCFTA Hub, aiming to simplify licensing for corporations and sole proprietors.
Nevertheless, many riders report being unaware of the necessities and the brand new digital platform.
In a transfer to de-escalate tensions and handle the core points, Minister Sam George has directed a right away halt to the enforcement.
He acknowledged that whereas the PCSRC is legally mandated to manage the sector, the tactic of enforcement lacked vital stakeholder session.
“As ministry having oversight over PCSRC, we totally endorse the regulation and licencing of the area. So that isn’t in query. Nevertheless, it seems as if the enforcement of the licencing has occurred in a fashion that doesn’t recommend enough engagement with stakeholders,” Mr George stated.
The minister defined that this lack of session was the rationale for the directive to droop the enforcement.
“That’s the reason the ministry has directed that they droop the implementation, and I’ve known as for stakeholder engagement,” he added.
A stakeholder assembly has been scheduled for September 2, bringing collectively courier corporations, one-man operators, the PCSRC, its board, the Ministry, and different gamers within the postal and supply sector. The aim is to develop a good and extensively accepted roadmap for regulation.
“We have to have a dialog that the regulation should be carried out in a serene method, and that’s merely what we’re going to do,” the minister said. “So it isn’t to say that there shall be no regulation.”
The minister reiterated the federal government’s dedication to regulation enforcement however emphasised that it should be carried out pretty and with broader enter from affected events.
The non permanent suspension gives an important alternative for all stakeholders to discover a balanced strategy that promotes security and compliance with out disrupting the livelihoods of numerous riders who function the spine of Ghana’s rising e-commerce ecosystem.
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