The definition of ‘education for life’ shows in every facet of human endeavours – to the extent that the deepest rural dweller needs some sort of education to live; and more so to engage meaningfully with fellow humans and take care of animal and plant life. However, there are specific areas of education which require technical knowledge to comprehend – be it in business and/or professional life.
This article concerns basic literacy and numeracy for basic to middle-level traders; but the essence of publishing it here is to give a hint to specific regulators and policymakers to focus their minds and act effectively for economic improvement; more specifically, educating street vendors in their understanding and acceptance of MoMo payment.
As simply referred to, MoMo is an acronym for mobile money; a speedy African solution to be the equivalent of what debit and credit cards do in developed economies. The origin, development and success of MoMo is traced to Kenya in 2007 – where they call it M-Pesa in Swahili, meaning ‘m-money’. Amazingly, the product – a global brand for Vodafone’s Mobile Money service – has far less customers in Ghana’s branch of Vodafone as compared to customers of MTN MoMo since its adoption in 2009.
The sharp growth of MoMo usage in Ghana was witnessed between 2012 and 2018. I am yet to research latest transactions in MoMo usage. Recent hardship in the Ghanaian economy does not suggest there will be an appreciable increase in MoMo transactions; more so due to rejection of the E-levy and its reincarnation.
Momo transactions in 2018 amounted to GH¢223.2billion. This exceeded cheque transactions of GH¢20billion in same year. I believe MoMo transactions would have been more if the needed steps were taken in ensuring the education of small to middle level traders in literacy and numeracy, since the informal sector has the most and biggest trading and/or employment activities in Ghana.
My inspiration for this article emanates from an experience of buying in the street, hence the following case study. I had picked my son from school one afternoon, and he wanted some snacks. I had no cash at hand, but I had some money in my MoMo wallet. There was no MoMo vendor where we were so I took the chance to approach a bufrot-seller and inquired if she would accept MoMo payment. She obliged. We transacted.
The next was a request for a drink. We approached the drinks-seller and she also accepted our request for MoMo payment. Amazingly, both sellers had very little formal education. I was very happy with the experience.
Need I say that I have shopped at some so-called ‘elite’’ and some ‘’not so elite’ places which involved more money, and yet they refused to accept MoMo payment. These sellers or traders are regarded as educated and must understand MoMo payment better, yet they refused to accept the MoMo payment option.
The question I asked myself then and now is: why can’t MoMo payment be policy-driven so the necessary steps then become the standard across the board? My concern and emphasis here is for the street- and middle-level sellers to increase their business gains, and to encourage more people into trading as means of livelihood to ease the economic burdens on low-income families.
In the following paragraphs, I propose a call for policy direction as an embodiment of this article’s topic as follows:
- Literacy and numeracy for traders
Education in Ghana must take a new turn to focus on all segments of society. I can boldly say that adult education now is not what it used to be some years ago. Some have argued that the literacy rate in Ghana has improved due to increasing enrolment in schools. This assertion is not entirely true, in the context that enrolment in schools does not necessarily reflect the needed skills required for the world of work.
My specific reference in this article is the need for training in literacy and numeracy for small- to medium-scale traders. While literacy will help them to apply reading, writing, speaking and listening skills to their trade, numeracy will give them the ability to understand and apply numerical skills in solving mathematical problems required for their trading. In effect, literacy and numeracy will help traders to solve real-life trading situations.
For this outcome, compulsory training will enhance MoMo transactions for economic reasons for small- to medium-level traders. Be it a government and/or telecommunication companies’ agenda, there must be an economic policy for traders’ literacy and numeracy in MoMo payment.
- Certification
Traders’ certification in literacy and numeracy is an economic reason for MoMo payment improvement, and a step in the right direction. The certification, having fulfilled all requirements in the training programme, will authenticate the trader as a licenced and recognised MoMo payment trader.
The inspiration for this certification is drawn from the Microsoft experience in year 2000 for its product sales. Without the certification, an IT dealer is not legally permitted to sell Microsoft products. This best standard practice can be benchmarked for Ghana’s MoMo payment for small- to medium-level traders.
To this effect, certification after the training will motivate traders to trade more; hence enhancing MoMo transactions for economic reasons. Be it a government and/or telecommunication companies’ agenda, there must be an economic policy for traders’ literacy and numeracy in MoMo payment by certification.
- Trader’s Code
I guess the reasons some elite shops may refuse MoMo payment for goods and services include security against theft. By training and certification as enumerated in points 1 and 2 above, the trader will be issued with a trader’s code as a form of security to authenticate the veracity of payments.
To this end, having obtained training and certification, the trader’s code becomes an identity for verification of payments. Once traders and buyers are assured of their payment security, MoMo transactions will be more appreciated; and hence can enhance MoMo transactions for economic reasons. Be it government and/or telecommunication companies’ agenda, there must be an economic policy for traders’ literacy and numeracy in MoMo payment.
- Incentive for traders
By virtue of having been trained, certified and coded, the telecommunication companies must incentivise traders on their platform – since they drive sales to the telecommunication companies.
- Continuous Traders’ Development
By regularising points 1 to 4 enumerated above, a Continuous Traders’ Development (CTD) programme will emerge for the country’s societal and economic development.
In conclusion, I wish to state that quality education which leads to nation and people development must be solution-oriented. By my estimation, the telecommunication companies have not done much, as desired in MoMo payments, to develop their trading partners; particularly small- to middle-level traders. A necessary consultancy service is needed to expand this effort and harness the full potential of traders’ development to motivate their affiliation to MoMo payment.
Nii Armah is a Lawyer, an Educationist and a Management Consultant. He is a Lead Fellow, Education and Social Transformation Pillar at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a policy think-tank based in Ghana.
