Airtel Ghana has held the first training session for 350 Mobile Money agents and given them a wide range of skills to make them efficient Airtel Money agents. The training session constituted that first phase of the company’s Agent Rationalization Project, designed to prune Airtel Money agent network to ensure that a core team of well trained agents with high interest and capability are deployed across the country to provide services to the increasing number of Airtel Money customers in Ghana. It was also to enable the agents earn increasing profits from their partnership with Airtel Money. The 350 agents were given skills in customer service, finance and office management, bill payment, customer registration process (know your customer), sending Airtel money and others relevant to their work. Acting Head of Airtel Money in Ghana, Yaw Akosa Antwi was quoted in a statement as saying “we noticed that there was a need to strengthen our agent network to enable us to meet the high and justifiable demands of our numerous customers.” He said Airtel gathered feedback on the need for the training through its rigorous customer service processes, and decided to streamline its numbers while ensuring that the pruned number of agents were also equipped with cash and e-value for their teaming customers. Mr. Antwi added that customers of Airtel Money can now visit the strategically located agents for cash in, cash out, bills payments and top ups. “Additionally our Airtel Shops, franchise shops and selected post offices will also continue to offer Airtel Money services across the country,” he said. Corporate Relations Manager of Airtel Ghana, Kwame Gyan said Airtel Money continues to be the leading mobile commerce product on the market, adding that “winning the MobileWorld Mobile Money Service of the year last year affirmed our lead and stature in the market.” He said the company had since done a lot more to consolidate the product and provide the convenience its customers deserved. Gyan said “whereas others are testing certain products such as linking customers’ wallets to their banks, Airtel Money customers in at least seven banks already experience the service and we are working on getting a lot more banks on the platform”.