The Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana has advised mobile money agents in the country to as a matter of urgency, prioritise their personal safety and security by taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from attacks.

This has become necessary in the face of rising incidents of violent attacks on MoMo agents and vendors across the country.

In a statement from the corporate communications unit of the chamber, it said the rising incidents of violent attacks were not only a threat to human lives but also stability of the financial services ecosystem, given the role they played.

It was reacting to the death of three agents at different locations within a spate of one month, the EMIs said the situation was unacceptable and called for an urgent need to curb it.

In February alone, three MoMo agents lost their lives following attacks on them. 

Last week, at Manso-Asamang in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, unknown assailants shot and killed a 33-year-old MoMo vendor, Augustine Mensah.

He was attacked while returning home after performing a transaction at a customer’s house.

Days before this incident, a similar incident occurred at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District where another vendor, Japhet Yeboah, was also attacked and killed.

Arrest

The Bono Region arrested five suspects – three females and two males - in connection with the killing and they are currently in custody to assist with investigations.

Also at Krofrom in Kumasi,  a 27-year-old woman identified as Patricia Nimako was shot and the attackers bolted with GH¢10,000 and the mobile phones used for the transaction.

Eyewitnesses said she was shot right in front of her vending kiosk moments after returning from the bank.

These attacks have sparked fear among the MoMo agents, who have called for enhanced security and protection.

Precautionary measures

While pledging to collaborate to improve security and safety, the EMIs Chamber has also advised the MoMo Agents and vendors to implement some precautionary steps to protect themselves.

These include closing their shops early to reduce exposure to night-time crime, avoiding carrying large sums of cash and making transactions in isolated locations, as well as being highly vigilant and reporting any suspicious individuals or activities to the police.

“Also we encourage vendors and agents to invest in CCTV cameras, panic alarms and security systems at their operating points, as well as make their shops and agency known to the nearest police station so that the collaboration with Ghana Police motorcycle visibility team to support will be more effective,” the statement further advised.

The Chamber also called for stronger collaboration among the various stakeholders to help stem the rising incidents.

It said as part of the immediate steps in finding a solution, it was engaging the Ministry for the Interior, the Ghana Police Service and the Bank of Ghana to find the best and most effective security solution to combat the growing threat and protect its partners.

It said it would work closely with the relevant stakeholders to explore enhanced protection measures, improved law enforcement response and policy interventions to safeguard mobile money agents across the country.

The EMIs Chamber further stressed that contrary to the impression that agents and vendors carry large sums of money on them, they do not.

“We also take this opportunity to correct a dangerous misconception held by some sections of the public – mobile money agents do not have large amounts of money on themselves.

“Mobile money transactions are largely digital and cash handling is minimised, through structured financial processes.

We, therefore, urge, the public to support efforts to protect agents, rather than propagate falsehood that fuel these attacks,” the statement emphasised.