Mobile money vendors in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West Region have suspended their services due to rampant robbery attacks on service providers.
The suspension aims to raise awareness about the increasing violence faced by service providers and to demand enhanced safety measures.
The Mobile Money Vendors Association announced the suspension following 12 armed robbery incidents in the municipality over the past three months, eight of which specifically targeted mobile money operators.
In August alone, four mobile money shops were looted, resulting in substantial financial losses and two fatalities.
Despite the arrest of four suspects, their release on bail has intensified concerns about the effectiveness of legal protections for vendors.
The association’s chairman, Tahiru Issahaku, stated that the service suspension is a necessary measure to safeguard members from further harm.
Residents are appealing to security agencies in the municipality to increase protection for mobile money operators to ensure the resumption of services.
The robbery attack happened at a mobile money shop around 7 pm on Saturday, August 17.
Reports indicate that the four armed men arrived at the mobile money shop on motorbikes and fired gunshots sporadically.
They ransacked the place and stole an undisclosed amount of money.