MTN Ghana
has beefed up security to protect mobile money users from fraudulent activities
and ensure customers have enhanced experience as the telecommunication company
continues to invest in infrastructure expansion and improved services.
Some security measures being outlined by the
company to protect its 14 million registered subscribers include
re-introduction of ‘allow cash out’ menu, introduction of agent identification
and code as well as increased public education.
It has also fortified its already robust IT
system which allows technicians to deal swiftly reported cases of fraud mobile
money irrespective of one’s location.
Speaking at a regional Editors’ forum in Wa, the
Upper West Regional capital Nii Adortey Mingle, MTN General Manager – Regional
Sales Northern Ghana, warned mobile money users to be vigilant and never
disclose their four-digit personal identification number.
“I want to add that do not entertain a call
concerning your personal accounts, don’t entertain any call about your money,”
he said.
He also urged individuals transacting mobile
money to double-check the name of any recipient before sending the money
through them.
Mr Samuel Koranteng, the Corporate Services Executive
of MTN Ghana, said, “It is a crime to pre-register a sim card” and urged the
public to report any MTN agent who engaged in the act.
The forum, organised by the country’s leading
teleco, was to update editors about the company’s operations during the year
and highlighted some achievements and challenges over the period. It also made
projections into the future.
Mr Koranteng said the company has invested $160
million in infrastructure expansion and improvement in several projects
including deployment of 350 Greenfield and 100 rural sites countrywide.
It also paid GH¢1.3 billion as tax revenue to
Ghana Revenue Authority in 2018 and GH¢184 million to telecommunication
regulators – National Communication Authority and Ghana Investment Fund for
Electronic Communications.
The total amount paid to government amounted to
GH¢1.48 billion.
“MTN Ghana spent GH¢825 million in improving our
IT sector, recorded GH¢1.15 billion from the IPO launched with 127,000
Ghanaians. We have implemented 1,110 3G site and 254 4G upgrades,” Mr Koranteng
said.
However, he expressed worry that MTN continues
to experience more than 100 fibre cuts every month, disrupting network
telecommunication services and hampering smooth operations of businesses.
He said the company spends GH¢6,634.83 to repair
a single fibre cut and by the end of January 2019 it had spent over
GH¢677,577’63 fixing 102 fibre cut incidents.
He said from January to date, MTN has
experienced 822 fibre cuts and projected the figure might climb beyond thousand
by the end of the year.
In 2018, the company recorded about 1,142 fibre
cuts.
The cuts have been blamed on road constructions
which tops with 49 per cent while private developers follow with 37 per cent.
Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Company
accounted for seven per cent of cable cuts. GNA