A recent survey conducted by global audit and advisory firm KPMG has brought to light the remarkable surge in mobile money usage among Ghanaians.

The findings indicate that a staggering 66% of the population embraces the convenience of mobile money transactions on a weekly basis, signifying a significant shift in financial habits across the nation.

The 2023 KPMG West Africa Banking Industry Customer Survey has revealed that mobile money has emerged as the dominant channel in Ghana's payment landscape, with 66% of participants indicating weekly utilization.

Even with a significant shift toward digital channels, the nation continues to primarily operate as a cash-based economy.

The ease of transferring money between accounts and mobile wallets, the report said, emerged as the most important experience metric for retail customers.

Notably, certain banks refrain from imposing fees on their customers for transferring funds between their mobile money wallet and bank account, fostering convenience. Additionally, there was an uptick in customers utilising financial technology platforms.

Sixteen percent of respondents indicated using fintech platforms weekly, up from 10.0% in 2022.

Fifty three percent of respondents reported using their bank’s mobile app at least once a week, a 3-percentage point increase from last year.

The USSD platform’s penetration also continued its upward trajectory, evidenced by a growth in weekly customer usage. Presently, 28% of respondents use their bank’s USSD platform weekly.

Despite a substantial move towards digital channels, Ghana remains predominantly a cash-based economy.

A significant 32.0% of respondents indicated weekly Automated Teller Machine (ATM) usage, emphasising the importance of 24/7 cash availability at these machines which ranks as the second most crucial metric for retail respondents.

The report also stated that with 36% of respondents favouring the ATM for cash withdrawals and 22% preferring mobile money, the cultural preference for cash persists due to its perceived security and widespread acceptance, particularly in traditional markets and informal sectors.

“Despite advancements in digital security, there persists a prevailing mistrust and reluctance toward the security of digital platforms”, it added.

In summary, the report said the ongoing journey of digital adoption is gaining momentum, albeit moderately. Thus, the Ghanaian payment sphere presents a fertile ground, ripe with opportunities for substantial disruption and transformative change.