Reflecting issues faced by nations worldwide trying to implement mobile payment programs, Ghana's National Communications Authority, the governing body responsible for overseeing that country's telecommunications industry, is working with the central Bank of Ghana to boost consumer awareness of mobile money programs. The organizations are also looking at ways to facilitate money transfers between competing carriers.

According to a post on Ghanaian news site Peace FM, the inability to send funds across carrier platforms has limited the success of mobile money programs in Ghana. Lack of consumer trust has also hampered adoption.

Like other West African nations, Ghana has been looking at mobile money programs to provide financial solutions for the country's unbanked population.

The Peace FM story cited a study by mobile money platform Fundamo, a Visa company, which found that Ghanaians are uncertain about the trustworthiness of mobile payments. The study said two-thirds of respondents were concerned about issues related to use while just over half (55 percent) lacked trust in providers and agents. Another quarter (28 percent) said lack of interoperability between services was a concern. 

The story said that three of the country's six mobile carriers have introduced mobile money programs, the most popular being e-Transact, MTN and Airtel Ghana. After more than five years in operation, the value of transactions last year exceeded GH?500 million ($257 million).

Read more about money transfer/P2P payments.