Omanghana
MTN Ghana has warned Mobile Money loan defaulters that changing or discarding their SIM cards will not erase their outstanding debts.
The company explained that every MoMo account is linked to the subscriber’s unique Ghana Card identity, making it possible to trace borrowers even after they abandon the telephone numbers used to secure loans.
MTN Ghana’s Field Service Manager, Dickson Amoung-Yam, disclosed this during a stakeholder engagement in Sunyani.
He said some borrowers previously attempted to evade repayment by taking quick mobile loans and disposing of their registered SIM cards. However, the current identity-verification system permanently connects each account to the personal and biometric information associated with the subscriber’s Ghana Card.
As a result, any borrower who registers a new SIM card with the same Ghana Card can be identified and linked to the unpaid debt associated with the previous number.
MTN Ghana’s Technical Manager, Samuel Duku, also revealed that the telecommunications company is working with credit reference bureaus to strengthen the tracking of borrowers’ repayment records.
Under this arrangement, a person who defaults on a MoMo loan could be blacklisted, affecting the individual’s ability to obtain credit from banks and other licensed financial institutions.
The consequences could extend beyond access to mobile loans, as an adverse credit history may limit opportunities to secure personal, business or other forms of financing.
The tracking system supports efforts by the Bank of Ghana to promote responsible borrowing across the country’s expanding digital-credit market.
The central bank has repeatedly cautioned borrowers that mobile loan transactions form part of their financial records and may be reported to licensed credit bureaus.
This means abandoning a SIM card does not remove the borrower’s repayment history. Instead, persistent default could damage the individual’s credit profile and make it more difficult to access legitimate financial services in the future.
MTN Ghana has therefore advised customers with outstanding MoMo loans to contact their service providers and arrange suitable repayment plans.
The company urged borrowers to treat digital loans with the same seriousness as conventional bank credit, emphasizing that repayment obligations remain valid regardless of whether the original SIM card is active.
Source: Omanghana
