The Ghanaian Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has launched an Integrated Courier and Logistics Management System – Ghana (iCOLMS‑GH) to regulate the growing courier and logistics sector in the country.
The system provides a digital platform where courier companies and delivery riders can register, apply for licences, renew their permits, and confirm compliance with regulatory requirements completely online. Courier and logistics sector is one of the drivers of Ghana's digital economy.
The sector is committed to connecting businesses and consumers together across the country. However, weaknesses in regulations have been revealed as the growth of e-commerce boosts delivery services in the country. There are increasing number of unregistered operators whose activities disadvantage legitimate businesses and weaken consumer trust.
In August 2025, the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission carried out a joint enforcement operation with the Ghana Police Service in Accra targeting unlicensed courier operators. During the exercise, several riders were arrested and their motorcycles confiscated because they were offering delivery services without obtaining the mandatory licence required by law.
The regulators explained that the crackdown aimed to enforce laws that require courier operators to obtain licences before operating, prevent tax evasion by informal delivery operators, and address security and consumer protection risks associated with unregistered delivery services.
However, the government—through Sam George, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation—later temporarily paised the seizures due to public backlash and protests from riders it caused. Sam called for wider consultation with industry stakeholders and pledged to create a simplified digital platform that would allow operators to formalize their activities without negatively affecting their means of livelihood.
Benefits of iCOLMS‑GH
The new iCOLMS-GH platform introduces a fully digital and paperless system for licensing courier operators. It is designed to simplify the process of registration and regulation within the courier industry by allowing operators to complete their licensing procedures online.
The platform is connected to key national digital systems such as Ghana.GOV and the National Identification Authority (NIA). There are also plans to link it with Traffitech-GH, a system used by the Ghana Police Service. These integrations are expected to strengthen identity verification and improve regulatory monitoring.
Another feature of the system allows members of the public to confirm whether a courier company or delivery rider is legitimate before using their services. At the same time, regulators can monitor operators more effectively and ensure that safety rules and industry regulations are followed.
To encourage quick adoption, the government has provided courier companies and riders with a 19-day grace period to register on the platform. The temporary pause on enforcement will last from March 12 to March 31, 2026. After this period, enforcement will resume across the country on April 1, 2026, and authorities will take action against operators who have not complied.
