On August 21, 2025, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George issued a directive halting the enforcement of a newly proposed licensing requirement for courier riders. The order came in the midst of mounting pressure from rider groups and activists who had pushed back hard against the policy, arguing that the high license costs of over GHC 1,000 per motorbike threatened their livelihoods. News of the suspension was first reported by 3News, with further context provided by Asaase Radio and other outlets.
Riders organized under the Concerned Delivery Riders Association (CDRA) held protests at Asaase Radio in Cantonments, voicing their discontent with the proposed licensing fee. The CDRA’s leader, Ankamah Nana Yaw Barimah Ebenezer, emphasized that riders already contribute 5% of every delivery fee to fleet partners like FH and Express Street Fleet, an amount said to cover expenses such as insurance, compliance, and registration. As he pointed out, imposing an additional GHC 1,070 for individual licensing smacked of double regulation and risked collapsing their business models.
The riders warned that enforcing the directive would force many, including students and family men, out of business. Their call was clear: eliminate the duplicative licensing requirement and strengthen existing fleet-level regulation instead.
Against this backdrop of escalating tension, Minister Sam George ordered a suspension of licensing enforcement, effectively granting courier riders reprieve. The Minister’s move appears aimed at defusing the unrest and providing room for dialogue.
This policy clash occurs within a longstanding regulatory framework overseen by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC). The commission is responsible for licensing courier services in Ghana, and has historically taken enforcement actions, including impounding unlicensed motorbikes and levying fines or penalties.
Safety concerns have also driven the push for regulation. Authorities aim to reduce road accidents involving commercial riders, with proposals for training, uniform identification, and structured oversight already under discussion within the Ministry of Transport.
