GhIPSS to roll out ATM card online payment system

Online business transactions are set to get easier for Ghanaian e-commerce customers and businesses as the online payment hindrance will be a thing of the past.

The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) is set to roll out  an Internet payment gateway to make it possible for holders of domestic Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to make payment online. This will address a pertinent hindrance to the e-commerce revolution currently taken place in Ghana, which is the inadequacy of efficient online payment systems.The launch of the 'gh-link e-Commerce' , which is slated for Wednesday, 19 2015 is to promote e-commerce and result in the creation of jobs as various services are needed in the e-commerce value chain.The Chief Executive Officer of GhIPSS  Archie Hesse, in an interview with pulse.com.gh  urged indigenous Information Technology (IT) players to position themselves in readiness to seize the opportunities that the gh-link e-Commerce will offer."web developers and other IT services would be needed by businesses, which will sell online, and urged people with knowledge in the areas to play lead roles to ensure a successful e-commerce era."He also urged businesses to take advantage of what technology could offer and to get their website ready to receive payments online."The Internet payment gateway will also enable traditional businesses like retail shops, hotels amongst others to transform  their operations . various other shops can offer their services and products and receive payments online. A number of young entrepreneurs, who currently sell their products online but have to receive physical payments will now be able to receive payment online, he said.The planned launch of the gh-link e-Commerce is in line with the mandate of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), to migrate Ghana to a cash-lite or cashless economy, where various electronic payment options including mobile phones will be dominantly used instead of the heavy reliance on cash.Mr Archie said GhIPSS also planned to launch an instant payment service that will enable people to instantly transfer funds from one bank account to another, even if the accounts belonged to different banks, without visiting a banking hall.The payment option is expected to facilitate transactions, as funds transferred through this medium will be credited to the account of the recipient instantly.Both the gh-link e-Commerce and GhIPSS Instant Pay are services that banks pushed for when GhIPSS held an interaction session with bankers to determine the kind of electronic payment products that will enhance their operations.