Examining the Effectiveness of Electronic Payment System in Ghana: The Case of e-ZWICH in the Tamale Metropolis

Abstract

There have been significant development of technological innovations in Ghana’s banking sector and financial services in general. The introduction of e-ZWICH in Ghana in 2008 came with so much euphoria as great news meant to move the country towards a cashless economy. Many Ghanaians signed on to the first biometric payment system – the e-ZWICH. After several years, the interest and patronage seem to have waned drastically. The study examines the effectiveness of that form of electronic payment system in the Tamale metropolis in Ghana. The study adopts questionnaire administration to ascertain the common types of e-payment systems, the level of adoption of e-ZWICH, and the factors affecting its effectiveness. This study reveals that there is low patronage of the e-ZWICH smart card due to frequent link failures, long queues in banking halls and limited point-of-sale devices. This has stalled the effective adoption and use of the system. The study recommends that the innovators and regulators introduce measures to renew the interest of stakeholders through sensitization workshops, making the point-of-sale devices more available and enhancing the smooth operation of the devices.

Keywords: e-ZWICH, Point-of-Sale devices, Biometric, Innovations, Payment systems