The Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, has raised concerns over what he describes as unexpected deductions on a mobile money transaction, sparking fresh public discussion about digital payment charges in the country.
Mr. Nyarko Osei, who also serves as the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Roads and Transport, shared details of the incident on his official Facebook page, questioning what he believes to be unexplained fees applied to a transfer he made via mobile money.
According to the post, the legislator stated that he transferred an amount of GHS 2,415 to a GCHIS Ecobank account through his mobile money wallet. However, he claims he was later charged an additional GHS 25.00 on top of the transaction value.
He expressed surprise at the deduction, questioning whether such charges are new, previously undisclosed, or routinely applied without his awareness.
“On Sunday, 24th May 2026, I made a payment of GHS 2,415 through my MoMo to a GCHIS Ecobank account and I was charged GHS 25.00 in addition. What’s happening? Is it the case that they have been charging these fees and I’m just not aware of it?” he wrote.
The MP further questioned when the charges were introduced and whether they had been properly communicated to customers.
He suggested that the deduction could represent what he described as “subtle” or unclear charges embedded in digital financial transactions.
“Since when did they start charging these fees in the first place? For the avoidance of doubt, I have decided to attach the transaction details to my post. Is this a subtle way to sneak in some unapproved charges?” he added.
Mr. Nyarko Osei also called for clarification from both mobile network operators (MNOs) and the receiving financial institution, asking whether the charges originate from the telecom providers, the bank, or both.
“There must be an explanation from the two companies. I am questioning both the charges and the fees,” he stated.
The transaction in question reportedly involved an Ecobank account linked to GCHIS, though the exact nature of the account was not independently clarified in the post.
Ecobank, one of Africa’s leading banking institutions with operations across multiple countries, has not yet publicly responded to the MP’s claims at the time of publication.
The concerns raised by the legislator come amid ongoing public scrutiny of digital financial service charges in Ghana, particularly fees associated with mobile money transfers, bank interoperability transactions, and instant payment services.
Over the past few years, mobile money platforms operated by telecommunications companies have become a dominant channel for financial transactions in the country, including bill payments, merchant services, and transfers between individuals and bank accounts.
However, users have periodically raised concerns about transaction fees, deductions, and transparency in pricing structures.
While regulators and service providers have previously explained that charges often reflect service fees, interoperability costs, and banking transaction fees, individual cases such as the one raised by the MP continue to fuel calls for greater clarity and standardization.
As of now, neither the mobile network operators involved in MoMo services nor the receiving bank linked to the transaction has issued a detailed public explanation regarding the specific deduction highlighted by the legislator.
For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Nyarko Osei attached transaction evidence to his social media post, suggesting he may be seeking further clarification or accountability from the relevant institutions.
By 1960news.com
