Govt, courier unions agree on roadmap for industry regulation

The government has announced a 50 per cent reduction in registration fees for individual dispatch riders, slashing the cost from GH¢1,070 to GH¢570, as part of reforms to sanitise and regulate the courier industry.

The reduction, which took immediate effect, was aimed at addressing affordability concerns raised by single riders, who make up the majority of operators and rely on dispatch work as a means of daily survival.

Under the new arrangement, the one-off registration fee of GH¢570 will be accompanied by a reduced annual renewal charge of GH¢250, down from GH¢600.

Fees for fleet operators and platform-based courier companies remain unchanged.

Engagement

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (MCDTI), Samuel Nartey George, disclosed this during a stakeholder engagement with courier associations, including the Association of Licensed Courier Companies Ghana, Courier Association Ghana, Commercial National Motor Riders Union, Motorcycle Couriers Union, Yango and the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC).

This follows recent operations by PCSRC in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service in Accra that led to the seizure of unlicensed bikes, sparking protests from dispatch riders and public criticism over poor preparation.

Concerns

During the engagement, operators raised concerns over harassment of licensed riders, high registration fees, and rigid ownership rules.

While supporting regulation, associations urged fee reductions, broader sensitisation, and recognition of informal riders.

They cautioned that enforcement harmed company reputations and called for fairer policies to boost compliance and accommodate diverse courier operations.

In response, the PCSRC clarified that enforcement actions only targeted riders whose motorbikes were not captured in their companies’ declared fleets.

The commission emphasised that ownership of bikes was not compulsory for operators; however, every motorbike used must be documented with its registration and chassis numbers.

No operations

Mr George also suspended all enforcement actions against unregistered courier and delivery motorcycles until January 2026.

He said the moratorium would allow government and industry players to streamline the registration process and roll out a fairer licensing regime.

“Many of these guys depend on the daily sales that they make.

So, if you stop the person for that day, it means that day, that person's family is sleeping in hunger. 

So we need to deal with this thing once and for all,” he said.

He directed the PCSRC to develop a digital registration system—accessible via USSD and mobile app—by December 31, 2025.

The new platform will enable riders to register and pay their fees electronically, linking their details to the National Identification Authority database for verification.

Mr George stressed that enforcement of the new regime would begin on January 1, 2026, with a three-month compliance window before full road operations start on April 1, 2026.

He warned that fleet operators who fail to cover riders under their licences would be penalised, not the individual bikers.

“Like I keep saying, this government is about the welfare of the Ghanaian people. And the law is made for the people.

The people are not made for the law. So, the law must respond to the needs and situations of the people,” he said.