The Mobile Money Advocacy Group (MoMAG) is ramping up efforts to protect mobile money operators across Ghana following a spate of violent attacks and killings targeting its members. During a recent stakeholder engagement in Dzodze, Ketu North Municipality, Mr. Edward Ofori Agyemang, MoMAG’s National Chairman, revealed that the association has formally reached out to the Minister for the Interior and the Inspector General of Police to seek urgent interventions.
While the Ministry has acknowledged receipt of the letter, MoMAG is currently awaiting a confirmed date for high-level discussions to develop sustainable security solutions tailored for mobile money agents nationwide. The move comes in the wake of troubling incidents in Kumasi and Aflao, where armed robbers attacked and killed agents, underscoring the growing risks faced by these frontline financial service providers.
Mr. Agyemang praised law enforcement for the swift arrests of suspects linked to the recent attacks, including the murder of an agent named Patricia in Kumasi. He stressed the urgency for coordinated action between security agencies and MoMAG to prevent further tragedies.
In parallel, MoMAG has stepped up its safety awareness campaigns, urging agents to implement stringent security protocols. These include avoiding carrying large sums of cash, limiting high-value transactions, and closing shops early—preferably by 6 pm when visibility decreases. Agents are also advised to verify customers by requesting motorbike riders to remove helmets before transactions, and to never disclose cash availability information.
Echoing these safety measures, Mr. Stephen Quarcoo Gorman, MoMAG’s Executive Member for Operations, highlighted the introduction of life and hospitalization insurance for members and encouraged business diversification to reduce financial risks. “We urge our members to not depend solely on mobile money services but to incorporate other income streams like selling phone accessories or airtime,” he noted.
Regional representative Mr. Friday Henyo Abednego reinforced the call for agents to join MoMAG, emphasizing the benefits of solidarity and collective advocacy. He also advised agents to prioritize their safety during attacks by cooperating with assailants rather than resisting, to avoid injury or loss of life.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Emmanuel Agbaxode, Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for the Volta/Oti Region, who lauded MoMAG’s vibrant role and urged all agents in the region to unite under one strong association for enhanced protection and representation.
As mobile money continues to be a vital service in Ghana’s economy, MoMAG’s push for stronger security measures and community cohesion marks a critical step towards safeguarding those at the forefront of this growing sector.
