MobileMoney rewards ride-hailing drivers in push for cashless transport payments

MobileMoney Fintech LTD has begun rewarding drivers and riders from Ghana's major ride-hailing platforms for embracing cashless fare payments in a new push to accelerate mobile money adoption across the transport sector. Winners of the "Ride with MoMo" promotion received cash awards, free mobile data, and recognition certificates at a ceremony held at Accra Mall, with the company signalling that additional batches of winners will be announced in coming weeks as the campaign rolls out nationwide.

The initiative targets drivers from leading ride-hailing firms including Uber, Yango, Bolt, and Shaxi who consistently accepted mobile money payments through the mobile money app whilst delivering quality service. According to MobileMoney, the recognition reflects the company's commitment to incentivising digital financial behaviour that benefits both drivers and passengers.

Pushing Ghana's cashless agenda

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Abdul Razak Issaka Ali, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer of MobileMoney Fintech Limited, emphasised that the "Ride with MoMo" campaign forms part of a broader strategy to deepen digital financial services and advance Ghana's cashless economy. The promotion, which launched on 8 July 2026, is designed to make transport more convenient whilst demonstrating tangible benefits of going cashless.

MobileMoney highlighted several practical advantages of digital payments in the ride-hailing sector. Cashless transactions reduce the security risks drivers face when carrying large amounts of physical money, improve financial record-keeping for transport operators, and create a more transparent record of business activity. For passengers, the system offers convenience and reduces the need to carry cash.

Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that cash prizes and complimentary mobile data will support their daily operational costs whilst encouraging their customer base to adopt MoMo for fare payments.

Why this matters for Ghana

The campaign addresses a critical challenge in Ghana's financial inclusion landscape. Whilst mobile money penetration is high among banked populations, cash remains dominant in informal sectors such as ride-hailing and street vending. By targeting drivers—highly visible operators who interact with thousands of customers monthly—MobileMoney is leveraging a key influence point to shift payment behaviour at scale.

This initiative aligns with Ghana's broader push towards a digital economy, which offers benefits beyond convenience. Greater adoption of mobile money creates verifiable transaction records, helps tax authorities track economic activity, reduces fraud associated with cash handling, and generates valuable data for financial service providers to extend credit and other services to previously unbanked populations.

For the ride-hailing sector specifically, cashless payments address longstanding safety concerns, reduce operational inefficiencies tied to cash management, and provide drivers with documented income proof useful for accessing loans or formal financial services.

Broader context

MobileMoney Fintech LTD operates MTN MoMo, Ghana's largest mobile money platform and a subsidiary of telecom giant MTN Ghana. The company's expansion into incentive-based campaigns reflects intensifying competition in Ghana's mobile money space and the strategic importance of transport-sector adoption to broader digital payment goals. Success in ride-hailing could create momentum for similar initiatives in other cash-heavy informal sectors.