8 vritti August 2020
Changing Lives
WhatsApp based
registration in Ghana
In Ghana, with the advent of COVID-19, Bank of
Ghana (country’s central bank) on 18 March
2020 relaxed KYC norms and permitted the
consumers to use their already existing mobile
phone registration details to be on-boarded
[4]
for a minimum KYC account .
In Ghana, the consumers can self-register
and open minimum KYC mobile money account
remotely using mobile money USSD code.
However, in times of COVID-19, AirtelTigo
Money introduced another simple and
convenient way for the consumers to selfregister
using Whatsapp, targeting the younger
demographics of the country. The consumers
simply need to send ‘Hi’ to AirtelTigo Money
WhatsApp number 0577000084 to begin the
process. The AirtelTigo Money WhatsApp
number responds with the list of documents
to be submitted by the consumers. Consumers
then have to share photo of their ID, date of
birth, location and AirtelTigo Mobile Number
to complete the registration process. The
WhatsApp based registration is the quickest
and easiest way to register for the mobile money
account from home in Ghana and follow
social distancing.
Overall, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated
the successful digitization of mobile money
registration process in many countries and is
expected to become a permanent feature in a
post COVID-19 era.