Author: Akin Naphtal

A digital asset marketplace has been unveiled in Ghana to complement efforts at driving a cash-lite economy. Currently operational in Nigeria, Glover App, has launched its presence on the Ghanaian market via its brand campaign themed “One App Many Possibilities”. It is one of the fastest-growing gift card companies in West Africa which seeks to improve the gift card shopping experience and the gifting culture on the continent and the world at large. According to the organisers, the mission of Glover is to create a new asset class of Africans who are empowered with the financial freedom they need to…

Ghana-based banking association GhIPSS has rolled out a bank-wide mobile money service to individuals and businesses. The GhanaPay service, which operates like already existing mobile money services, with additional banking services, is opened to everyone with access to a mobile phone (including a yam phone) with or without a traditional bank account. GhanaPay can be used to send and receive money to and from mobile networks and bank accounts. It can also be used to cash in and cash out, buy airtime, data, and also pay for goods and services through a GhQR merchant. The banking association’s representatives stated that…

Hubtel Limited , an indigenous Ghanaian technology company, has distanced itself from a fraudulent service being offered by some individuals. Hubtel published a statement on Monday, June 20, 2022, unequivocally denying any association with the fraudulent ‘Hubtel Data Service.’ “Hubtel has received information that people purporting to be linked with the company are marketing a service called “Hubtel Data Services.” We wish to categorically disclaim that the persons behind this unauthorized service are illegally impersonating Hubtel and using a variation of the Hubtel logo to build familiarity to mislead our customers and the general unsuspecting public. We would like to…

Huawei’s number of 5G Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) continues to rank No. 1 in the world, according to Clarivate, a leading global IP consultancy, and analytics firm. Clarivate’s latest report “Demystifying the 5G standard-essential patent landscape: Phase 3” conducted a systematic study on 5G patents. The report shows that Huawei still ranked No. 1 with a patent family of 6,566 and the fastest growth rate. SEPs are common in the telecommunications field. No company can avoid 5G SEPs if they want to design products that comply with 5G standards. For five straight years, Huawei has ranked No. 1 worldwide in…

MTN South Africa is ramping up the rollout of its 5G coverage in the coming months, with the group aiming to have at least 25% of the population covered by the end of 2022. “We want to have 5G connectivity across almost every part of South Africa. Our aim is to bring the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to more people in an efficient and cost-effective way. “This means expanding our 5G coverage every day, with a strong focus on investment into main metros, peri-urban areas, and larger townships initially,” said Charles Molapisi, MTN SA’s chief executive. Molapisi said…

Nigerian auto-tech startup Autochek has partnered with Kenyan fintech Pezesha to enable SMEs in Kenya to access asset financing. Autochek aims to build digital solutions that will enhance and enable a seamless and safe automotive commerce experience across Africa, starting with Nigeria and Ghana. It plans to use technology to transform the automotive buying and selling experience for African consumers, by creating a single marketplace for consumers’ automotive needs, from sourcing and financing to after-sales support and warranties. Having expanded to Kenya late last year, Autochek has now partnered with Pezesha in a move that will enable SMEs to acquire…

Nigerian “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) startup CredPal has raised funding from the Cairo Angels Syndicate Fund (CASF), a micro-venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups in the Middle East and Africa. Launched in 2018 by Fehintolu Olaogun and Olorunfemi Jegede, CredPal is a consumer credit platform that gives buyers the freedom to buy now and pay later, and helps merchants acquire more customers to increase sales. The Y Combinator and Google-backed CredPal has over 85,000 active customers and over 4,000 onboarded merchants, and announced in March it had raised US$15 million in funding to expand its consumer credit…

Uber, a global ride-hailing company, will be introducing new features on its app for drivers in Kenya. This includes being able to choose routes in which they want to operate. According to Business Daily, the drivers will be able to use the Nairobi Expressway and toll charges will be passed on to passengers. The new features will be very convenient for drivers who want to work close to home or their other jobs. They will also reduce the travelling time, ensuring that passengers get to their destinations much quicker. “The idea is when you switch on the app and say…

Verizon Business has announced that it is teaming up with Mastercard and First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) to launch a credit card designed to bring value to small business owners. According to a statement, existing Verizon Business wireless customers with less than 100 lines and an online account will be eligible to apply for the Verizon Business Mastercard®, which rewards purchases on everyday business expenses, such as eligible office supplies, technology, and fuel, and more. “Mastercard has been a key partner to us on our journey to help our customers of all sizes transform their businesses and ensure they…

By Zintle Nkohla Google has announced 1,000 scholarships in Kenya for small businesses in the country to open online shops. According to Techweez, the new development was announced as part of a month-long commemoration of International SMEs day this month. Google will be working with Coursera, an open online course provider, to develop an online certificate course in digital marketing and e-commerce. “E-commerce presents an opportunity for small businesses in Kenya to reach new customers and grow,” said Agnes Gathaiya, Google Country Director for Kenya and East Africa. “Through the digital marketing and e-commerce career certificates, and specialized training to…