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The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhIPSS) is targeting the commercial transport sector to help drive the adoption of the GhQR platform.

GhQR is an electronic payment channel that enables customers to scan displayed QR codes with their smart phones and pay, or dial displayed USSD codes with their phones to make payment. Ghana’s QR code for payment is universal which means that any customer whose bank or payment service provider offers the service can use it wherever it is displayed.

Customers of the major banks, telcos and other payment service providers can access the service and make payments wherever they find a GhQR code.
The Commercial transport sector is seen by GhIPSS as one of the key merchant points, considering the relative ease with which QR codes can be set up in the busses. Passengers boarding, will only need to scan the displayed codes by the driver, to pay and take their seat in the bus. Passengers who do not have smart phones, will dial a code and make payment.

Paying transport fares with GhQR means that less or no cash will be on the driver and passengers will equally have little reason to carry cash. When GhQR becomes the dominant mode of paying transport fares, there would be less motivation for highway robberies, many experts have suggested.

Speaking in an interview, a year after the launch of GhQR, the Chief Executive of GhIPSS, and Mr. Archie Hesse said plans were far advanced for the organization to meet the various companies and associations involved in commercial transport services. He explained that since most transport fares are fixed, it will would be easy for just everyone to pay using GhQR. He however added that during their engagement with the key stakeholders, any adjustments that will be required to make the service user friendly for commuters will be made.

The use of GhQR is expected to experience significant growth as the number of institutions gone live with it increases to 15. It comprises 11 financial institutions and 4 payment service providers.

GhQR was launched last year to add up to existing electronic payment channels, as part of the larger cash-lite agenda. The payment service enables customers to scan displayed QR codes with their smart phones and pay, or dial displayed USSD codes with their phones to make payment. Ghana’s QR code for payment is universal which means that any customer whose bank or payment service provider offers the service can use it wherever it is displaced.

The four payment service providers currently offering GhQR are Vodafone Cash, AirtelTigo Money, Hubtel and GCB’s G-Money, while the financial institutions offering the service are Ecobank Ghana, GCB Bank, Absa Bank, Access Bank and Cal Bank. The others are Agriculture Development Bank, Consolidated Bank Ghana, and Fidelity Bank. The rest are Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Various other institutions are close to completing the process to also go live.

All the 15 institutions have the service available on the USSD or short codes while 7 of them have the service also available on mobile apps.
Chief Executive of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), Archie Hesse commended the institutions that have gone live with the service and was hopeful that the remaining players in the industry will quicken their processes to enable their customers to also enjoy the service. Mr. Hesse added that the fact that GhQR is non-contact form of payment makes it very ideal in the era of the Corona virus pandemic, as it ensures that both customers and merchants observe physical distancing.

GhIPSS together with its partner institutions are embarking on massive public education to create awareness and drive patronage for the service. Mr. Hesse said the campaign will continue and urged the public to patronize the GhQR payment service.

The use of QR code for payment is enjoying global appeal. There are several benefits associated with QR code for payment. The most cited is the simplicity of the payment process. “Anybody that has ever used a phone should be able to use QR code with ease, and after scanning or dialling the code, one can see the details of the transaction to be certain that they tally with how much is to be paid and who is being paid, before tapping to pay”, Mr. Hesse explained. He added that this feature gives customers a lot of confidence knowing that the right transaction has been effected.