Government efforts to impose licensing requirements on digital platforms risk blocking opportunities for ordinary Ghanaians, Bright Simons said on Wednesday. The vice-president and head of research at the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education warned that such regulations could obstruct ride-hailing and e-commerce services that many rely on for income.
Speaking at Joy News’ Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy, Simons pointed to Uber, Bolt, and similar platforms as examples of technology that users and workers have adopted without formal training. “Nobody taught them how to use mapping services. Very few people tried to teach them how to do that. Somehow we figured out how to use mapping services, how to do geolocation and deliver food and the rest of it,” he said.
Simons opposed previous proposals to license ride-hailing platforms, which would have imposed heavy obligations on local governments. He also cited public backlash against proposed licensing rules for developers in Ghana as evidence that poorly considered regulations can harm innovation and access.
“So we have to think about policy as also to include the things that remove barriers and bottlenecks for ordinary people, because when it comes to the basic capabilities, map reading, WhatsApp use,” Simons said. He argued that governments often act as obstacles rather than enablers in the digital economy, slowing down the natural adoption of new technologies.
He extended his argument to content creation on social media, noting that many people have learned to build audiences and create content without formal schooling. “Who builds schools to teach people how to use WhatsApp? Who builds schools to teach influencers how to do YouTube influencing?” he asked.
Simons framed the identification of regulatory hurdles as a practical intervention that improves people’s lives. “Often they are impediments and bottlenecks in their way, and people like us who point them out should not be seen as discussing theory. It’s very practical,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing debates in Ghana about how to regulate the digital economy without stifling growth or excluding informal workers and entrepreneurs. The government has previously considered licensing schemes for ride-hailing services and software developers, but these proposals have met resistance from civil society and industry actors.
Simons’ warnings highlight the tension between regulation and access in a country where digital platforms have become a significant source of work. Drivers, delivery workers, and small-scale retailers rely on apps for income, often learning the necessary skills independently.
The forum was held on 21 October 2026 and focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on Ghana’s economy. Simons’ contributions urged policymakers to focus on removing obstacles rather than creating new ones, emphasising that digital literacy often grows organically among users.
His remarks suggest that any future policies should consider the real-world experience of platform users, many of whom have adapted quickly to technology without formal guidance. The debate over licensing and regulation continues, but Simons made clear that heavy-handed rules risk undermining the livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians.
According to Joy Online.
