The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, has ordered the immediate suspension of a joint enforcement exercise targeting unlicensed delivery riders in Accra. The move follows public outcry and chaotic scenes that erupted during the operation on Thursday, August 21. The exercise, conducted by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) and the Ghana Police Service, led to the seizure of dozens of motorcycles and sparked clashes with aggrieved riders near the National Theatre, events captured in a viral video.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Minister acknowledged that the enforcement was “a necessary activity to bring some sanity and order to the use of motorbikes for delivery purposes as stipulated by law.” However, he mandated an immediate halt to the operation, stressing that broader consultations were essential before its implementation. “I have directed this afternoon an immediate halt to the ongoing enforcement action by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission,” he stated. The Minister argued that while the action was legally justified, the approach lacked necessary groundwork.
“I believe the Commission needs to do more stakeholder engagements and public sensitisation before the enforcement activities commence. We must enforce the law with a humane face to it,” he wrote. He confirmed that he would convene a meeting with stakeholders in the coming days to develop an agreeable roadmap for the implementation of the regulations.
The directive brings temporary relief to hundreds of delivery riders who rely on motorcycles for their livelihood and who had been caught off guard by the sudden enforcement of the licensing laws.
Source: bbc.com
