Ghana has launched a digital platform to regulate its rapidly expanding courier and logistics sector, introducing a fully online licensing system aimed at improving oversight and rebuilding trust in e-commerce deliveries.
Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, unveiled the Integrated Courier and Logistics Management System – Ghana (iCOLMS-GH) on Thursday in Cantonments, describing it as a step toward formalizing an industry that has become central to the country’s digital economy.
The platform allows courier companies and individual riders to apply for, renew and verify licenses digitally, replacing a largely manual system that regulators say struggled to keep pace with the rapid rise of delivery services linked to online commerce.
Speaking at the launch, George said the system was introduced following a controversial enforcement operation in August 2025 in which hundreds of motorbikes were seized during a joint exercise by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission and the Ghana Police Service. The government halted the crackdown and instead moved to develop a digital framework allowing operators to regularize their activities without disrupting livelihoods.
George said the courier and logistics sector has become a key backbone of Ghana’s digital economy, connecting businesses and consumers nationwide. But the rapid growth of delivery services has also exposed regulatory gaps, including the proliferation of unregistered operators that undermine legitimate businesses and weaken consumer confidence.
The iCOLMS-GH platform introduces a paperless licensing regime and will integrate with national systems including National Identification Authority and the government’s digital payments and services portal Ghana.GOV. Future integration is planned with the police verification system Traffitech-GH to strengthen compliance monitoring.
Officials say the platform will allow regulators to monitor operators in real time while enabling consumers to verify the legitimacy of courier companies and riders before handing over parcels.
“For the Consumer, security – the currency of e-commerce – is what this digital platform guarantees. By means of the iCOLMS-GH portal, every member of the public is empowered to verify the regulatory status of a courier company or rider before entrusting them with their item of value”, George stated.
Authorities have granted courier companies and riders a 19-day grace period to register on the platform before enforcement resumes nationwide.
The moratorium runs from March 12 to March 31, 2026. After that, joint task forces from the Ghana Police Service and the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission will begin strict regulatory enforcement from April 1.
“All existing courier companies also have that same period within which to on-board and integrate their systems with the iCOLMS-GH digital platform. Failure to comply will attract various regulatory sanctions. This time, however, there will be no excuses. The system is live, the process is digital, and there shall be enforcement”, he admonitioned.
Operators can complete registration through the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission portal, via USSD or through a dedicated WhatsApp line, according to the ministry.
The digital licensing system forms part of broader efforts by the government to formalize segments of the digital economy while strengthening consumer protection in online commerce.
