Ghana Post Celebrates World Post Day 2024

together countries to support global communication, cultural exchange, and access to essential services. What started with 22 nations now includes 192 member countries, showing the strength of international cooperation.

Over the years, the UPU has adapted to challenges like wars, crises, and rapid technological changes. It has remained a strong symbol of global unity, ensuring communication is accessible to everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Today, the UPU leads efforts to modernize and improve postal services. It provides a space for countries to share knowledge, find new solutions, and address modern challenges. The UPU's spirit of cooperation helps turn obstacles into opportunities, making sure postal services evolve with the changing world.

Where once we viewed the rise of digital communication and the decline in traditional mail volumes as a threat, we now see a wealth of possibilities. The UPU's extensive network has adapted to support a broader range of services – including e-commerce, financial, social and digital services – ensuring inclusive access for people worldwide, including in the most remote areas in order to leave no-one behind.

Instead of viewing competition as a challenge, the UPU welcomes partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders. This inclusive approach strengthens our ability to address global challenges, like climate change, which requires cooperation across borders.

As we look to the future, the UPU’s mission remains clear: to connect and empower people around the world. By staying committed to multilateralism, innovation, and inclusivity, the UPU will continue to support global communication and serve future generations for the next 150 years.

On this significant occasion of World Post Day commemorations, we join the world in celebrating the milestone 150 years of fostering communication and empowering individuals and communities across the globe. The postal sector has played an indispensable role in bridging distances, enabling human connections, and driving socio-economic progress within our communities. The sector has remained unwavering in its mission to ensure that every person, no matter their location, has access to reliable means of communication, thereby narrowing the effects of geographical and spatial gaps.

In Africa, the story of the existence of postal services is one of resilience and progress. We are proud that since inception, the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) has been connecting Africa with itself and to the rest of the world, ensuring that communication remained accessible to citizens in every corner of the continent. With over 26,000 postal outlets across the continent's 54 countries, the postal network in Africa serves a population of 1.3 billion people, providing essential services in the urban, peri-urban and rural communities.

Today, the African Posts are making strides in digital transformation to keep the post vibrant and serving the emerging digital economies. The collaboration between PAPU and the key postal stakeholders like UPU and sub-regional postal bodies, in Africa and beyond, has been further strengthened by the partnerships concluded with fintech companies and other technology solution-providers. These Partnerships ensure that Designated Operators in Africa can meet the evolving demands of our globalized world catalyzed by technological innovations and disruptions.

Our efforts, as a sector, extend beyond traditional postal services as it includes e-commerce, digital financial services, e-government services and trade facilitation which are potential massive contributors to the socio-economic development of our continent.

The Post remains committed to contributing towards the attainment of the UN SDG goals as well as the African Union Vision 2063 by improving the lives of African citizens through provision of services that alleviate poverty and hunger; create employment and contribute to the economic and social development of countries. Indeed, through collaboration with key stakeholders, like the UPU, we continue to contribute towards the addressing of critical global issues such as climate change, money laundering and financing of terrorism, counterfeit goods and cyber security while adapting seamlessly to new technologies.

As we join hands with the UPU to celebrate 150 years of enabling communication and empowering people, we re-affirm PAPU's mission of creating a Single Postal Territory in Africa. The African Post is ready to embrace the future, together with our global partners, to ensure that the postal sector continues to be a key driver of connectivity and empowerment for all in the digital era.

Together, let us honor the legacy of the postal system and look forward to a future where the Post will continue to connect nations, empower people, and enable communication across the world.

Long live the African Post!

Honorable Speaker, Esteemed Members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests, and Members of the Postal Community, Today, we gather to celebrate World Post Day, a day of profound significance as it marks the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), founded in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. This year’s theme, “150 Years of Enabling Communication and Empowering Peoples Across Nations,” embodies the enduring commitment of the UPU to connect people and nations through the power of communication.

World Post Day, declared in 1969 by the UPU Congress in Tokyo, Japan, has since been celebrated annually by over 150 countries, including Ghana. The day presents an opportunity to reflect on the vital role postal services play in our everyday lives, from connecting loved ones to supporting businesses and communities. It is also a moment to celebrate the remarkable transformation of Ghana Post and its alignment with global postal trends of innovation, integration, and inclusion.

Ghana Post: A Journey of Transformation and Service
From its inception under colonial rule, Ghana Post has been a cornerstone of communication and commerce in our nation. Originally operating with heavily manual processes, it played a vital role despite the challenges of a rudimentary addressing system and the absence of digital tracking. Today, Ghana Post has embraced a digital-first approach, transforming itself into a modern, efficient, and customer-centric organization.

The introduction of the Ghana Post Digital Addressing System has been revolutionary, providing every location in Ghana with a unique digital address. This has drastically improved delivery times and accuracy, making our postal services more efficient and reliable. The Enterprise Postal System (EPS) and International Postal System (IPS) have automated mail acceptance, processing, and tracking, allowing customers to monitor their parcels in real-time while enhancing our international collaborations.

In recent years, Ghana Post has made significant strides in digital innovation within the African postal community. Key milestones include:

• The Ghana Post Digital Addressing System: This groundbreaking innovation has given every location in Ghana a unique digital address, revolutionizing mail delivery and enhancing accuracy.
• The Enterprise Postal System (EPS) and International Postal System (IPS): These systems have automated processes, enabling real-time tracking of parcels and improving transparency for customers.
• Revenue Growth: Over the past few years, Ghana Post has experienced remarkable revenue growth, with a 40% increase in 2023 alone.
• Awards and Recognition: Ghana Post has been recognized for its exceptional service delivery, receiving numerous awards, including the “Most Digitized Postal Service in Africa” by the UPU.

The Role of the Post in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, countries around the world, including Ghana, committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to address issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The postal sector plays a crucial role in this global effort by providing essential infrastructure that supports economic growth and social inclusion. Ghana Post has aligned itself with these goals through initiatives such as digitalizing operations and expanding services to remote and underserved areas, ensuring that all Ghanaians have access to reliable postal services.

Celebrating Global Initiatives and Local Achievements
As part of the global postal community, Ghana Post participates in the UPU’s International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People, which promotes literacy and creativity among children. This year, participants are encouraged to write letters to future generations, reflecting on the world they hope to inherit. Such initiatives inspire young minds and emphasize the importance of communication as a tool for personal and societal growth.

Locally, we celebrate World Post Day with various activities, including philatelic exhibitions, open days at post offices, and the launch of innovative products like the Otumfuo Crypto Stamp. These events not only highlight our achievements but also engage the public and demonstrate the continuous evolution of our services.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Ghana Post
As we celebrate 150 years of the UPU, we are reminded that the journey of innovation and service does not end here. Ghana Post is committed to further integrating advanced technologies into its operations. The introduction of AI in postal services, the expansion of digital offerings, and the move towards a smart workplace are just a few of the initiatives we are undertaking to ensure that we remain at the forefront of the digital transformation of postal services.

Our vision is to build a postal service that is not only technologically advanced but also inclusive and accessible to all. By expanding our digital services and maintaining a strong presence across all regions, we aim to bridge the digital divide and provide all Ghanaians with the opportunity to benefit from our services.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Connection and Empowerment
Honorable Members, the story of Ghana Post is one of resilience, adaptation, and forward-thinking. From its early days as a manual operation to its current status as a digital leader, Ghana Post has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of our society. As we look to the future, we are inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead and are determined to continue leading the way in postal services and digital transformation.

On this World Post Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to innovation, integration, and inclusion, ensuring that Ghana Post remains a vital part of our national infrastructure and a beacon of connection, empowerment, and pride for all.

Thank you, and Happy World Post Day to all.