Courier Services Commission cracks down on illegal providers

An unannounced operation carried out by a special task force in Accra yesterday led to the arrest of 13 illegal courier service operators.

The operation, which was carried out by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, in collaboration with the Accra Regional Police Command, was part of efforts to flush out illegal courier service operators.

During the operation, some motorbikes belonging to some of the courier service providers were impounded.

The quack and unlicensed courier operators busted included postal service providers, restaurants offering delivery services and online trading companies.

Those whose motorbikes were impounded include Red Chilli, Hellofod.com.gh, Royal VVIP,  Jopee Transport, Price Line Transport Limited, Accra–Odaw Express, Wayosi Music and Business Service Limited.

The rest are Falcon Express, Cross Country and Eagle Express, Samtuberg Courier Services, Orbit Courier Services and Smile Courier Services.  

Three other companies whose representatives were apprehended paid the licensing and renewal fees on the spot. 

Encounter with unlicensed operators 

When members of the task force visited the offices of Zoobashop.com, an online store, at La, near the Trade Fair Centre, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Albert Biga, fumed at the task force for visiting his office, along with the media, unannounced.

The task force said the company was neither registered nor licensed by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission.

Later, Mr Biga agreed to meet only two of the task force members, made up of an official of the commission and a police officer, while the rest of the members of the task force waited outside. 

After the meeting, Mr Biga insisted that two television cameras which had captured the scene delete the video.

He later told the task force, which had invited him to the police station, that he would report to the police in the company of his legal team a day later.

The task force impounded a Zoobashop.com motorbike. 

One of the people arrested, Mrs Elizabeth Opata, who was operating Orbit Courier Services at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, Legon, said it was a project embarked on by the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the school about six years ago to enable students to exchange letters and books with their fellow students in other schools.

Only 80 legal operators 

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chief Executive of the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, Mr Isaac Annan Riverson, said the illegal operators had been cautioned on numerous occasions but they had failed to license their operations.

He also said some operators who had registered with the commission had failed to renew their permits, contrary to the law.

Mr Riverson said 80 companies had been legally registered and licensed with the commission. 

Section 10 of the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act 649 (2003) stipulates that no person shall establish a courier service without a licence issued by the commission.

Describing the exercise as a success, he said it would be replicated throughout the country.

He explained that the operation was to protect the interest of licensed operators and customers, adding, “We receive a lot of calls from customers who use the services of unlicensed courier service operators and get their parcels undelivered.”

Writer’s email:emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh