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MTN Ghana to reward Mobile Money subscribers for patronising digital payments
In a bid to promote digital payments in this era of COVID- 19, Mobile Telecommunication giant MTN has launched the ‘MoMo Pay & Win’ promotion to reward customers who make payments for goods and services through Mobile Money Merchant IDs and QR codes in the months of August and September.
The service provider, in a statement, said the points based promotion gave customers the opportunity to earn and accrue points when they make payments.
“Customers earn one MoMo point for every GH¢1.00 paid. Payments should have been made to at least five unique Merchants ID numbers within the month to qualify for a prize.
“At the end of each month, the top 2,000 customers who earn the most points will be declared winners. The 2,000 selected customers will be presented with e-cash prizes ranging from GH¢10,000.00 to GH¢50,000,” it said.
Speaking on the promo, the General Manager of MTN Mobile Money Limited, Mr Eli Hini, said that the promotion was to “encourage customers to enjoy convenience of making payments using a merchant ID or a QR code which eliminates the handling of cash and ensures a safe and secure transaction”.
He urged retail outlets, churches, hospitals, associations and unions, etc to embrace Mobile Money payment as a means of receiving all forms of payments to reduce the time spent on sorting, counting and transporting cash to the banks.
“Digitisation is facilitating the new normal and at the centre stage of this is digital payments. With the merchant pay, your money is kept safely and sales can easily be tracked,” he noted.
The ‘MoMo Pay & Win’ promotion was launched on August 5 as part of activities to celebrate MoMo month under the theme “The Relevance of MoMo in a COVID 19 World”. It was to encourage customers to adopt digital payments over physical cash.
The MTN ‘MoMo Pay and Win’ promotion will end on September 30, 2020. Customers can check their accrued points for the month by dialing *120#. At the end of each month, the winners will be presented with their prizes.
Other activities outlined to create excitement for customers during 2020 MoMo month celebration are digital fairs and social media quizzes.
With the launch of the promotion, MTN has intensified its campaign against fraud. The service provider advised customers to be careful of the activities of scammers.
It said the company did not charge any money or its equivalent before prizes were redeemed, hence “any request for money, recharge cards or airtime before a prize is redeemed is fraudulent”.
“Calls originating from MTN on the promotion will be made through the official line 0244300000 only,” it added.
MTN MoMo Month was instituted in 2012 and had for the past eight years been instrumental in driving awareness, influencing policy and deepening the use of Mobile Money services.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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