The drive towards a cash-lite economy has received a fresh boost following the launch of the Ride with MoMo campaign, an initiative designed to move c
The drive towards a cash-lite economy has received a fresh boost following the launch of the Ride with MoMo campaign, an initiative designed to move commercial transport operators away from cash-based transactions and bring more drivers into the formal digital payments ecosystem.
The initiative, spearheaded by MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MoMo) in partnership with the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), is using the GhQR payment platform to provide ride-hailing drivers, haulage operators, Pragya riders and other commercial drivers with a safer and more structured way of receiving fares.
The campaign was launched in Accra before moving to Ho in the Volta Region as part of a roadshow aimed at expanding adoption among transport operators. It has brought together transport unions, ride-hailing drivers, financial institutions and state agencies, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA; Motor Traffic and Transport Department, MMTD and National Communications Authority, NCA.
At the centre of the programme is the MoMo Merchant Wallet combined with GhQR, which allows passengers to pay transport fares simply by scanning a driver’s QR code. Payments can be made through the MoMo App or other applications supporting GhQR, reducing drivers’ dependence on physical cash.
Chief Executive Officer of MobileMoney Fintech LTD, Shaibu Haruna, said the initiative goes beyond providing passengers and drivers with another payment option.
According to him, digitising fares can help commercial drivers build more structured businesses by separating business revenue from personal funds and creating reliable records of their transactions.
“Ride with MoMo is more than convenience. It is about helping drivers separate personal and business income, keep proper records, and build a transaction history that can support future access to financial services,” Haruna said.
He explained that bringing ride-hailing, haulage and Pragya operators onto the MoMo Merchant network would provide them with formal business payment channels and potentially strengthen their financial profiles.
Haruna added that QR payments could also address some of the everyday difficulties associated with cash transactions in the transport sector.
“When passengers pay by scanning a QR code, drivers receive the exact fare instantly. It reduces cash risks, removes the challenge of change and makes daily transactions simpler for both drivers and passengers,” he stated
The initiative comes against the background of the rapid expansion of mobile money and digital payments in Ghana, where such platforms have increasingly become important channels for commerce, remittances and financial inclusion.
However, significant sections of the informal economy, including commercial transport, continue to rely heavily on cash.
For operators whose daily earnings may involve numerous relatively small transactions, digital payment records could provide a clearer picture of business income while reducing the risks associated with carrying cash.
Chief Business Officer of GhIPSS, Akosua Blay, said GhQR was designed to make Ghana’s digital payment infrastructure accessible to businesses regardless of the financial institution or digital wallet used by their customers.
“GhQR gives drivers one simple code through which they can receive payments from bank accounts, mobile money wallets and fintech wallets. This is how we make digital payments practical, inclusive and accessible for small businesses across the country,” she said.
According to Blay, the partnership with MoMo is expected to help bring more informal businesses into formal payment channels while supporting Ghana’s broader transition towards an inclusive digital economy.
Commercial drivers who participated in the campaign have also welcomed the initiative. A representative of ride-hailing drivers in Accra said receiving fares directly into merchant wallets could reduce cash handling, minimise disagreements over change and provide operators with better records of daily sales.
The campaign’s expansion to Ho is particularly targeting Pragya riders and other commercial transport operators. A representative of the riders noted that the increasing preference for electronic payments among passengers makes it necessary for transport operators to adapt.
“Many passengers do not always carry cash. With GhQR, they can pay easily, and we can also keep better track of our business,” he said.
Beyond payment convenience, MobileMoney Fintech LTD is positioning the campaign as part of its wider contribution to financial inclusion and national development.
COMMENTS