Western Union to start mobile remittances in Ghana

Western Union will soon open up its remittance services to mobile network platforms in Ghana.

The world’s leading money transfer firm has initiated moves to partner some mobile network operators to facilitate the transfer of money across the globe.

The company said it is currently working at identifying and fulfilling regulatory requirement for the process to kick start.

The service has seen an increase from Gh¢ 2.4 billion in 2013 to Gh¢ 11.6 billion in 2014.

Speaking at a media briefing, Western Union’s president for Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and CIS, Jean Claude Farah said the growth of the industry is an opportunity to tap into.

“I will say instead of us seeing a threat we saw that as an opportunity and you will see us partnering with many mobile network operators and in the future you will see even more of that happening.

“You will see maybe a mobile application of Western Union over which on your phone you can be sending money regardless of the operator you are working with.”

He added: “For us mobile money transfer is a new way of how people would like to receive or send money. And this is certainly a way we will harness and we will leverage as Western Union leaders in the money transfer industry.”

Meanwhile, Western Union has partnered Ecobank to offer account-based money transfer services. This means customers abroad can send their remittances directly into Ecobank accounts in Ghana.

SOURCE:STARRFM