Ghana eCommerce and Delivery Services
On October 7, 2022, Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation issued a notice addressed to all:
1) e-commerce;
2) e-mobility;
3) “classified services;”
4) e-logistics; and
5) other digital business entities operating in Ghana.
The notice explains that individuals and companies have a mandatory requirement:
1. To register as an “Entity” on the AfCFTA Hub at www.afcfta.app to facilitate companies’ interactions with the relevant regulators (such as National Information Technology Agency, the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, and the Cybersecurity Authority), including in respect to any licensing and reporting activities.
2. If such companies currently onboard courier, delivery services providers, logistics operators and others in the goods delivery and e-commerce chains (such as motorists that deliver items on demand for customers), companies must ensure that these persons or contractors register on the AfCFTA Hub and obtain an AfCFTA Number.
3. To ensure that companies collect and record the AfCFTA Number of each such service provider and/or contractor in a register that can be inspected as a condition for retaining their services.
4. To ensure that companies display the AfCFTA Number of each such service provider or contractor to every customer that interacts with them during and throughout the digital session during which a transaction is underway (for example: during a delivery session when a motorist is couriering an item to a customer recipient).
5. To report the disengagement of a service provider or contractor if the basis of that disengagement is related to fraud, abuse, or unethical conduct.
6. To verify the AfCFTA Number of service providers using the tools for such purpose in the AfCFTA Hub.
7. To implement systems that shall enable the company to bar a service provider or contractor from their network if their AfCFTA Number is blacklisted by a regulatory or security authority with the power to do so.
8. To file any reports and notices required of companies in relation to this Directive as provided for in the AfCFTA Hub.
In a previous public forum prior to this announcement, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation explained that the AfCFTA Hub is intended to play a role in combating online and business fraud. The AfCFTA number registration process will link with other control points such as the Ghana Card, the Ghana SIM Card Registration Database, and the National Telecom Antifraud system. The AfCFTA Hub also serves as a central point of coordination among several domestic Ghanaian regulatory authorities, including the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, the Cybersecurity Authority, the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority, and the Food and Drug Authority.
The notice suggests that companies with questions can request an information session with the AfCFTA Hub Team to assist with compliance by writing to info@afcfta.app and copying alfred@afcfta.app, kab@afcfta.app and kaf@afcfta.app.
Ghana is the first country in the African region to implement the AfCFTA Hub. There is a vision to make the AfCFTA Hub a portal to facilitate intra-African trade.
To learn more about the environment for doing business in Ghana, contact Commercial Service Ghana at Office.Accra@trade.gov or +233(0)30-274-1870 and see our Country Commercial Guide to Ghana for broader context on doing business in Ghana and our market intelligence reports for ongoing updates on specific topics and industries.