Editorial
Make banking easy, flexible for all
Dear Editor,
Please permit me through your space to engage the various banks in the country about their operations and how their quest to digitalise have left a few of their customers exposed to activities of fraudsters.
I feel that in their bid to fully embrace Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), a number of their customers have been left behind.
A number of this group are those that are not ICT inclined and people who are not lucky enough with formal education. These people donot know their way about some of the new trends in ICT.
I came into contact recently with a customer of a bank who had difficulties operating a new App he was ‘forced’ to download and use.
According to this ‘yam’ phone user who had to give his son pressure to buy him an android phone, so as it were he could browse and handle his bank issues conveniently at home, he has no idea as to how to navigate around this App.
In so doing, he engages people he trust to help him and in the process, he gave out every single detail supposed to be confidential.
The point I am trying to make is that much as we must all embrace technology, there are some people who would definitely be left behind, and with such people, there must be a way for the system to take care of them.
Imagine this man had employed the services of someone who is not genuine or trustworthy, the worst could happen to him.
So I want to appeal to the banks that much as they try to introduce some of these measures, there must still be a place for those who want to go about their banking activities the traditional way.
Maxwell Boye,
Accra
Editorial
ECG PowerApp: A mixed bag of technical issues, uncredited payment concerns
Dear Editor,
On February 18, 2020, the former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) PowerApp, a mobile application designed in-house by staff of ECG.
It was to improve its service delivery to its customers.
The development of the app also meant that customers of ECG would now have the opportunity to purchase power and pay bills using their mobile phones.
That means customers of ECG would no longer have to join long queues to purchase power, but could now do that at their own convenience and in the comfort of their homes.
According to the Communication Officer, the PowerApp has increased annual revenue growth for the company.
He said as of April 2024, the new application system had increased its annual revenue growth by 128 per cent as compared to the old system at negative seven per cent.
Despite these reasons for which the app was developed and the benefits it has brought to ECG, there have been growing concerns among a section of the public on its use.
Some have argued that they were not credited after using the app to recharge their prepaid meter while the money was deducted from their MoMo accounts.
Such experience has made some customers vow not use the app to recharge their prepaid meters but rather go to prepaid vendors nearby to purchase credit. Some are even prepared to travel to far places to purchase prepaid credits.
I think such experience does not speak well of ECG because it could affect public trust in the company in its service delivery. This is the more reason why the ECG has to take the concerns raised by its customers seriously.
Kofi Bruce,
Mampong
Editorial
Our women can deliver
Dear Editor,
I write to congratulate the women that have so far caught the attention of President John Dramani Mahama for ministerial appointment.
So far, over 10 women have been vetted already and they all gave a very good account of themselves and I hope that they perform to the best of their abilities.
This is a good sign from President Mahama who demonstrated a strong resolve to provide an enabling environment for the women to be part of decision making by choosing a woman as his Vice President.
And true to his word, a number of women have been appointed in ministerial positions and others as presidential staffers.
I believe the other appointments to come would also have women making the cut.
This would be a morale booster for the young women out there who thinks that their position is the kitchen or in a man’s house as a wife.
This is a clear case of women given the urge to aim to rise above what society and traditional norms have set for them. I wish them well.
Maame Atta,
Kokompe
