2023 MTN MoMo Month celebration launched with firm assurance to curb fraud
Date: 2023-08-03
MTN Mobile Money Limited (MML) has officially launched this
year’s Mobile Money Month at the bustling Kaneshie Market in Accra with a firm
assurance from officials to curb the incessant mobile fraud bedeviling its
smooth operation.
Held on the theme: Addressing the barriers to digital
payment adoption in Ghana, the 2023 Mobile Money Month marked the beginning of
a month-long celebration aimed at promoting financial inclusion, digital
adoption and safeguarding mobile money transactions against fraud.
In his opening speech, the Chief Executive Officer of MML,
Shaibu Haruna, expressed his excitement and gratitude to the people of Ghana
for their unwavering support in embracing mobile money as a convenient and
secure financial tool. He emphasized that the 2023 Mobile Money Month was not just
a celebration but an opportunity to reinforce their commitment to combating
mobile money fraud and addressing barriers to digital adoption.
“Mobile money has become more than
just a mobile financial service. Now, MoMo customers have access to a wide array
of services including payments, investments, insurance, remittances, pensions
among others. It has redefined how we do business, how payments and
transactions are made, and provided many people with livelihoods. Ultimately,
it has become a way of life and continues to foster inclusion in Ghana –
serving as a major means of payment for the banked and unbanked population in
Ghana,” he noted.
He also announced the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between MML and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO)
which marked a significant step in this fight against fraudulent activities.
According to him, with the support of the country's security agencies, they
were determined to protect the interests of mobile money users and uphold the
integrity of the platform.
“We recently signed an MOU with the
Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), a partnership we believe will go a
long way in addressing MoMo fraud and bringing the perpetrators to book.
We continue to work with partners from the National Cybersecurity
Authority, Ghana Police Service and the Judiciary to conduct investigations
into fraud-related issues. As a digitally focused business we continue to
explore artificial intelligence tools to fight fraud,” the CEO stressed.
Mr. Haruna then expressed concern about a critical challenge
hindering the further growth of Mobile Money in Ghana - the persistent
preference for cash and stressed the importance of transforming the mindset of
Ghanaians from cash dependence to embracing the safety and convenience of
digital transactions.
“We will continue to work in
collaboration with other partners and industry players to address the barriers
in Ghana’s digital payments sector. We intend to accelerate growth in the
digital payments sector and further boost financial inclusion in the country by
continuing to invest in digital infrastructure, by employing a multi-sectorial
approach to policy formulation, and by building strategic partnerships and
collaborations,” he added.
Throughout the month, various events and campaigns have been
lined up to engage and educate the public. Consumer and staff promos were
announced to reward loyal customers and recognize the efforts of dedicated MML
personnel.
By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
