A compelling discussion on maximising the use of softwares has left Joy FM audience wondering if local taxi drivers can ever accept paperless payment for their services.

This prospect, however less likely it may seem in Ghana, is the present practice in Kenya, observes co-founder of I.T firm M-Power Payment System Alfred Rowe whose first lecture opened the JOY Technology Summit (JOTIS-2015) in Accra Wednesday.

Alfred Rowe singled out M-Pesa, an App that allows individual operators and other taxi companies to accept e-payment and mobile money transfers, as an example of the practicality of having a cashless society.

“The new “digital” taxi companies, Uber, Mara Moja, Sasa Cabs and Easy Taxi, are fighting for the Nairobi cab market.

“Taxi drivers and companies are depending on how the new apps can help them capture the market by providing a needed service.” theeastafrican.co.ke has observed.

Alfred hyped and highlighted the difference that leveraging technology can make in transforming how Ghana’s society works.

According to the software developer, Ghana in 2011 spent $30million to print 50 cedi notes.

He believes a more active push for the use of e-payments should help reduce the cost of printing money.

Although businesses in Ghana are jumping onto the internet to market their services, companies are not able to finalise a business transaction with customers because there are no e-payment features on the company websites.

“What is the use of a customer-to-come online interaction if one cannot pay online?” Rowe asked.

From banking, insurance, lottery, Alfred Rowe explained that technology is available to simplify payments for services in the pacy lifestyle in Accra and other major cities in Ghana.

According to him, it is possible for power company, ECG to sell power to customers even at midnight because of the availability of e-payment services.

He wondered why Ghanaians cannot maximize technology when Facebook CEO sits in California but makes money in Ghana.

Alfred Rowe notes that despite the challenges, some companies are aggressive in using e-payment services.

“Now event organisers don’t have to print tickets,” Alfred Rowe noted.

He believes even market women in Ghana, many of whom had very little schooling, are now accepting payments using digital wallets popularly known as mobile money.

It is the turn of taxi drivers to also cash into the digital age where paper is limited to the lavatory.