NIA Executive Secretary, Wisdom Yayra Koku, has clarified a February 2025 social media post, explaining that his remarks were about plans to activate the Ghana Card’s e-wallet feature, not replacing existing mobile money platforms.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Koku said the Ghana Card has three profiles — e-passport, e-wallet, and e-ID — with only the e-passport fully operational at present.
He explained that the e-wallet activation will allow cardholders to make payments and withdrawals directly from their bank accounts using Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, functioning like an ATM card.
“When you visit a restaurant or shop, you won’t need to ask for a MoMo number or pay with cash; you can simply use your Ghana Card to make the payment,” Mr. Koku said.
He added, “Once this is successfully rolled out, over 18.9 million Ghanaians will be able to perform cashless transactions, reducing the need for physical currency.”
The initiative, he noted, is part of a broader government effort to promote a cashless society, lower the cost of printing currency, and improve financial inclusion.
Mr. Koku recalled a trip to the UK where he was charged extra for paying in cash, emphasizing that Ghana should follow the global trend toward digital transactions.
“Plans are far advanced, and we are hopeful that by next year, the e-wallet feature will be fully operational,” he assured.
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