This initiative aims to empower people across Ghana by providing them with the latest  smartphones, thereby facilitating better connectivity and access to digital resources.

Under the Ascend Smart Phone Financing scheme, anyone with a Ghana card and a mobile money account can acquire an android

 smartphone from any Ascend sales point after making a 10% down payment. The remaining cost of the smartphone must be paid off within six months on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Launch

Speaking at the launch event last Saturday in Accra, the Managing Director of Credit Mall Limited, Gerard Badaweh Yitamkey, emphasized the significance of smartphones in the daily lives of Ghanaians for finance, communication, and productivity.

"That is why we came up with this initiative to enable the ordinary Ghanaian, with just a Ghana card, to get a phone of their choice and pay daily, weekly, or monthly. We are making smartphones affordable and accessible to all Ghanaians, regardless of their income levels," Yitamkey stated.

He explained that, while Credit Mall typically sells to individuals on the Controller and Accountant General platform, the Ascend initiative is open to anyone with a Ghana card and a mobile money account, who can visit any of the Ascend outlets nationwide.

"The maximum time to pay off the phone after acquiring it is six months," Yitamkey added.

Currently, only Android phones such as Samsung, Tecno, and Infinix are available under the scheme, with plans to include iPhones in the future.

Preventing default

Addressing concerns about potential defaults or customers absconding with the devices, Yitamkey revealed that the  phones could be locked remotely if a customer fails to make payments.

"If you don't pay or miss a payment, your  phone will lock, meaning you can't receive calls, make calls, or send messages. It is a new technology that will alert you that you are in default. The daily payments range from 9 cedis a day to 20 cedis a week, ultimately allowing you to pay off the phone within six months," he explained.

Previously, Credit Mall only sold phones to government workers, but the new Ascend product is designed to make  smartphones accessible to a broader audience.

Commendation

In brief remarks at the launch, the CEO of the  Teachers' Fund, Mr. Foster Buabeng, commended the staff of Credit Mall for developing numerous innovative products over the past year. He urged all teachers to embrace digitalization by patronizing the Ascend smartphone initiative.