Airtel Ghana has extended its M-Commerce service, dubbed Airtel Money, to the Melcom Plus supermarket at North Kaneshie in Accra to enable shoppers to make payment at Melcom Plus using their mobile phones without physical cash. The Airtel Money service was introduced by Airtel Ghana as a mobile commerce service that allows subscribers to use their mobile phones as a mobile wallet. Subscribers are able to use the service to pay bills and for goods and services, receive money, and send money to friends and family, deposit and withdraw cash, top up airtime - or top up someone else's and to check bank balances. Melcom Plus is the latest addition to a number of retail outlets where shoppers can make payment with their Airtel Money wallet. Other retail outlets where Airtel Money service is available include Koala Shopping Centre at Osu, Maxmart Supermarket in the A&C Mall at East Legon. “Bus Stop Restaurant (Circle), Galaxy Restaurant (A&C Shopping Mall), Sunshine Restaurant (Osu), Honeysuckle pub opposite Fire Service Headquarters on the Ring Road and Agbamame (Tema) also accept Airtel Money payment,” a statement from Airtel Ghana said. The statement quoted Director of M-Commerce at Airtel Ghana, Kola Sonola as saying the addition of Melcom Plus to the list of Airtel Money enabled retail outlets will offer customers a safer and easier way to pay at Melcom Plus, where the public has access to a wide range of goods from several brands. He said “Airtel Money is expanding at a steady pace and we are working with strategic businesses and outlets which our subscribers will find useful to their needs. Again, the convenience and safe nature of Airtel Money is always opening up to business opportunities with other financial institutions and businesses”. According to Kola Sonola, the world is gradually moving to a cashless economy and Airtel Money is strategically positioned to make it happen. The Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs of Airtel Ghana, Donald Gwira was also quoted as saying Airtel Money has partnered with ECOBANK, UBA, Zenith Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Unibank to bring mobile banking to the doorstep of Ghanaians. “Currently there are plans underway to add GT Bank and UT Bank and other financial institutions,” he said. Mr. Gwira said there are about 17 micro-finance institutions who have partnered with Airtel Money to enable their clients pay their investment contribution via their phones.