Minister Warns E-Commence Operators

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalization has directed all e-commerce operators and their courier/drivers to register with the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) latest by December 19, 2023.

Beyond the deadline, the Ministry said no new goods delivery and courier service provider could register with any digital platform or delivery service without a valid PSCRC e-certificate.

Meanwhile, existing operators have till January 24, 2024, to comply with the directive.

The registration is to allow for the acquisition of an e-certificate and an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Number that is essential for the curbing of e-commerce fraud and crimes committed by unlicensed, unregistered drivers, courier operators and delivery personnel.

In a press statement signed by Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said it had observed how many logistical companies and digital platform operators flouted the law by facilitating courier services without complying with the country’s licensing regulations.

It noted that the continued operation of digital platforms, and delivery and courier services, without licensing and proper oversight contravened the Electronic Transactions Act of 2008, Act 772 and the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act of 2003, Act 649.

“Section 10 of The Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act, Act 649, makes goods delivery and courier activities in Ghana a regulated service; and Sections 47 to 49 of the Electronic Transactions Act, Act 772, also specifies minimum compliance standards for commerce operators,” part of the statement reads.

Companies falling within the scope of the directive include Uber, Bolt, Yango, Glovo, Jiji, Tonaton, Maxmartghana.com, and all e-commerce and e-delivery platforms and companies.

“These businesses will no longer be permitted to continue using unregistered personnel to deliver goods, as this contributes to fraud and customer abuse” the statement added.

The Ministry also stated that it had become more imperative to streamline the sector as the focus on the cross-border e-commerce objectives of the AfCFTA and the growing use of digital platforms to facilitate internal trade increased.

“The government of Ghana has, therefore, launched the AfCFTA Hub to streamline and simplify licensing as part of the enforcement effort to ensure smooth legal compliance and to combat fraud. The AfCFTA Hub is endorsed by the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union 4D, and AfroChampions”.

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

GHANA TO FIGHT E-COMMERCE & DIGITAL FRAUD IN SUPPORT OF AFCFTA

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has observed that many logistical companies and digital platform operators are flouting the law by facilitating courier services without complying with the country’s licensing regulations.

Section 10 of The Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act, Act 649, makes goods delivery and courier activities in Ghana a regulated service; and Sections 47 to 49 of the Electronic Transactions Act, Act 772, also specifies minimum compliance standards for e-commerce operators.

The Ministry has therefore directed all such companies and the couriers/drivers operating on their networks to register with the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) for an e-certificate and for an AfCFTA Number by December 19th, 2023. After this date, no new goods delivery and courier service provider can register with any digital platform or delivery service without a valid PSCRC e-certificate. Existing operators must comply by January 24th, 2024. Companies falling within the scope of this Directive include Uber, Bolt, Yango, Glovo, Jiji, Tonaton, Maxmartghana.com, and all e-commerce and e-delivery platforms and companies.

The continued operation of these digital platforms, and delivery and courier services, without licensing and proper oversight contravenes the Electronic Transactions Act of 2008, Act 772 and the Postal & Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act of 2003, Act 649.

To curb the growing menace of e-commerce fraud and crimes committed by unlicensed, unregistered drivers, courier operators and delivery personnel, these businesses will no longer be permitted to continue using unregistered personnel to deliver goods, as this contributes to fraud and customer abuse.

This move to stricter law enforcement is further to earlier communications to these companies and other stakeholders in August last year. With increasing focus on the cross-border e-commerce objectives of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and the growing use of digital platforms to facilitate internal trade, it has become even more imperative to streamline this sector to ensure unimpeded growth. The government of Ghana has therefore launched the AfCFTA Hub to streamline and simplify licensing as part of the enforcement effort to ensure smooth legal compliance and to combat fraud.

The AfCFTA Hub is endorsed by the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union 4D, and AfroChampions. The AfCFTA Hub, supported by ProPer Seals and Tranzytechnologies, aims to boost digital trade on the African continent while preventing fraud and illegal trade and we must build trust and engender confidence in the security of these platforms internally to achieve this continental objective.

The Ministry seeks the full cooperation of all stakeholders in implementing these measures.