The Acting Executive Secretary of the Postal and Courier Service Regulatory Commission, Cosmas Mweyang Anpengnuo, has underscored the urgent need for stronger regulation of the country’s rapidly expanding delivery and courier industry to protect consumers and ensure accountability.
He stressed that although motorbikes had now been permitted to undertake commercial activities under the amended law, their operations remained illegal unless they obtained licences from the commission.
“Almost everyone now relies on delivery services in one way or another.
This includes hospitals.
We recently visited a town in the Brong Ahafo area where blood samples are transported from that town to Kumasi for testing.
The critical questions are how are these samples packaged?
Who regulates the process?
Who ensures compliance with safety standards?
The means of transport used to carry such sensitive materials must be safe and properly supervised.
There are also significant quantities of medical drugs being transported daily.
Who is carrying them?
Often, you see a local rider with a backpack transporting a starter from Abossey Okai to Madina and from there, he picks food from KFC in Madina to the ministries.
This situation cannot remain unregulated.
These operators must be properly licensed and supervised.
Until we are able to identify all operators, establish clear rules and ensure compliance, we risk regulatory failure,” Mr Anpengnuo said.
He said this when he, together with other senior staff of the commission, paid a courtesy call on the management of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) in Accra on Wednesday.
Sitting in the meeting was the General Manager of G-Pak, Kingsley Mate-Kole, and the Director, Sales and Marketing, GCGL, Franklin Sowa.
Expanding regulatory
The acting Executive Secretary said while the commission regulated Ghana Post and its courier wing, EMS, as well as private delivery firms, an amendment was being pursued to formally incorporate logistics operations into its mandate.
He noted that the line between courier services and what operators described as smart logistics had become increasingly blurred, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a surge in online ordering and delivery services.
Digitalisation, traceability
To address regulatory gaps, Mr Anpengnuo announced the rollout of a digital platform, ICUMS GH, designed to streamline licensing, monitoring and complaints management.
Through a dedicated short code *928*00# and a WhatsApp number 0596111611, operators could register, verify licences and make payments remotely.
He said the commission had expanded beyond its offices in Accra and Kumasi to establish new offices in Tamale and Ho, with plans for Sunyani and Takoradi.
Mr Anpengnuo said the commission was also seeking collaboration with the National Identification Authority to require riders to upload their Ghana Card details as part of the mandatory registration process.
He said integration with vehicle registration systems would ensure that motorbike ownership, insurance and registration details were verified.
Consumer awareness
Mr Anpengnuo said consumer ignorance about licensing requirements weakened enforcement, as many customers did not verify whether riders were authorised.
“There is an instance where an iPhone got missing and nobody could find the rider, and now Yango is in court with the owner of the iPhone,” he said.
He emphasised that once consumers were empowered to verify operators, they would be better protected.
Assurance
The Managing Director of GCGL, Ato Afful, described the commission’s reform agenda as timely and necessary, particularly given the rapid evolution of the country’s delivery ecosystem.
“This regulatory commission cannot afford to sit at the back end of the value chain and attempt to exercise oversight over a market-facing operation while remaining invisible to that same market,” he said.
He observed that the delivery space was expanding rapidly, with motorbikes and now electric bikes becoming part of everyday commerce.
“The average person sitting at home gets excited about the convenience, but rarely asks critical questions until something goes wrong,” he said.
Mr Afful praised the commission’s new digital platform, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening traceability and accountability.
He assured the commission of GCGL’s support in projecting its mandate and strengthening public awareness.
“We want you to succeed because when the commission succeeds, Ghana succeeds, strong institutions attract partners and investors who are willing to do business today and into the future,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh