The traditional telecommunications scratch card is rapidly disappearing from the Ghanaian market as consumers increasingly shift to mobile money (MoMo) and Electronic Vending Devices (EVDs)
This transition reflects a broader evolution in the country’s digital economy, rendering physical scratch cards nearly obsolete and compelling vendors to adopt electronic airtime distribution systems.
Although the shift began gradually over the past decade, it was significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when movement restrictions and the need for contactless transactions pushed many consumers to adopt digital payment options.
Mr David Amartey, a mobile money vendor, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the convenience of purchasing airtime remotely during the pandemic has now become a lasting preference.
“The pandemic reduced the reliance on face-to-face transactions and encouraged a more digital lifestyle,” he said.
Mr Amartey noted that digital systems have also eliminated common challenges associated with physical scratch cards, such as damage and difficulty in retrieving codes.
He said, however, that the supply of EVDs, which enable specific data purchases such as 1GB (gigabyte) bundles, remained inconsistent.
“The EVDs are scarce. We usually get them only on Tuesdays and Fridays, making it difficult to meet customer demand,” he said.
The shortage has forced many vendors to rely primarily on mobile money platforms, which, while convenient, present challenges including network instability and the risk of transaction errors.
Some residents in Tema and Ashaiman attributed the shift largely to convenience.
“With MoMo, you can buy airtime from home or the office without going out to find a vendor,” Ms Selina Thompson said.
She, however, noted risks such as sending airtime to the wrong number and exposure to scams.
Ms Emmanuella Appiah, another resident, said the unpredictability of finding vendors influenced her decision to adopt mobile money services.
“With MoMo, I can recharge anytime,” she said, adding that telecommunications companies now offer incentives such as bonus airtime for digital transactions.
The growing preference for digital platforms suggests that physical scratch cards may soon become a relic of the past.
Source: gna.org.gh
