Let’s Go Electronic and Reduce Exposure to Robbers – GhIPSS

The public has been urged to resort more to electronic forms of payment in order to reduce their exposure to armed robbery and related risks.

Mr Archie Hesse, the Chief Executive of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhIPSS), said this following report of two separate armed robbery attacks in two successive days and other instances, in which huge sums of cash were seized.

Mr Hesse, who expressed his sadness about the incidence, extended his sympathies to the victims of the robberies, but added that it is time such robbery acts are made less attractive by reducing cash transactions.

He explained that several electronic payment channels exist in Ghana that can enable both organisations and individuals to make payments without using cash.

The GhIPSS Boss pleaded with the public to turn to these non-cash forms of payments and reduce the tendencies to carry huge sums of money around.

Many people have lost money through robbery, fire, flood and other disasters because of preference for cash.

Such losses, Mr Hesse explained, could be avoided, if people kept their monies at the bank and accessed them through electronic payment channels to pay for transactions.

“Today, your money at the bank is as good as cash on you,” he said adding that the motivation for such barbaric attacks will be reduced if people went about with less or no cash on them”.

Mr Hesse advised organisations to use payment options such as cheques, Automated Clearing House (ACH) Direct Debit or Direct Credit, internet and mobile banking to receive or make payments.

He said in situations where the organisation wants the money instantly transferred, they can set up and use the e-bills pay or mobile money for smaller values.

He also advised individuals to use the various electronic payments options such as electronic cards, mobile money, the Instant Pay service, or ACH in order to reduce the amount of cash they have to carry or keep in their homes.

Source: GNA