The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has clarified why the government suspended the enforcement of licensing regulations against unregistered delivery riders.

The exercise, which was led by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, was aimed at ensuring compliance with existing laws governing courier services. However, the initiative triggered backlash among riders and operators who argued that the move was abrupt and lacked proper consultation.

Speaking at a media briefing, Mr. George emphasized that while government fully supports the regulation of the courier and logistics industry, the enforcement approach did not allow for adequate stakeholder engagement.

“As the ministry with oversight responsibility for PCSRC, we endorse the regulation and licensing of the sector. That is not in dispute. But the enforcement was rolled out in a manner that did not reflect sufficient engagement with stakeholders,” the Minister said.

He explained that this gap in consultation was the primary reason for government’s directive to suspend the operation. “That is why the ministry has asked that implementation be put on hold, and I have called for stakeholder engagement,” he added.

A meeting has been scheduled for September 2, which will bring together courier companies, individual delivery riders, the PCSRC and its board, the Ministry, and other industry stakeholders to discuss the way forward.

Mr. George stressed that the suspension should not be interpreted as scrapping the law, but rather as a pause to ensure fair dialogue and inclusivity.

“We need to have a conversation so that the law is implemented in a serene and fair manner. That is simply what we intend to do,” he stated.

The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to proper regulation of the courier space, noting that law enforcement must always be balanced with fairness and consultation.