A useful mobile money checkout connects the payment to the order. The customer chooses a product, follows their payment provider’s instructions, and the merchant checks the resulting payment status before fulfilment. This guide explains the setup and the checks a Ghanaian seller should make.
Choose the workflow you need
Taking a transfer to a personal or merchant wallet and taking payment through an online checkout are different workflows. A wallet transfer requires you to reconcile the payment with the order. An integrated checkout can associate the payment reference with the purchase automatically.
Makola supports mobile money and card checkout through its payment integrations. The options available to a particular account depend on its setup. Confirm your supported methods, payout destination and verification requirements before sending customers to checkout.
Prepare your Makola store
- Create your store and add an accurate business name and contact number.
- Complete the payment and payout information requested for your account. Follow the provider’s verification instructions.
- Add a product with its actual price, available options and stock information.
- Configure delivery or collection details so the customer can understand the total order cost.
- Preview the public product and checkout on a phone before sharing the link.
For a broader setup walkthrough, use the store launch checklist. Check current platform pricing and your provider’s payout terms when estimating your margin.
What the customer should do
The buyer opens the product, chooses any options and proceeds to checkout. They select an available payment method and follow the instructions from their wallet or payment provider. The customer should approve a payment only after checking the amount and recipient information.
Never ask a customer to send you a wallet PIN or one-time security code. Approval belongs in the provider’s payment flow.
Confirm payment before dispatch
Check the order and payment record in Makola. A screenshot, a message saying “paid”, or a pending payment is not the same as a confirmed successful payment. Payment confirmation can take time; do not promise every transaction will complete instantly.
- Successful payment: check the order details and proceed according to your fulfilment policy.
- Pending payment: wait for a confirmed status and use the payment reference when investigating.
- Failed payment: explain the available next step without telling the customer to repeatedly pay a transaction that may still be processing.
- A customer reports a debit but no confirmation: collect the order reference and contact support through the normal reconciliation process.
Keep payment and payout separate
A successful customer payment and money becoming available in your payout account are different events. Review the payout status and any applicable holds or settlement terms. Avoid promising immediate access to funds unless the terms of your account support it.
Use chat to guide the buyer
Illustrative reply: “Here is the product link with the price and available options. Choose your delivery details at checkout and follow the payment instructions. If anything is unclear, send me the order reference.”
See more WhatsApp selling examples. Send the product link rather than asking a buyer to reconstruct the order from several chat messages.
Review the first orders
Confirm that the correct product, amount, customer details and payment reference appear together. Check fulfilment and refunds through their supported workflows. Use SEO coach to complete missing product information before bringing more visitors to the store.
Questions and answers
How do I accept mobile money payments online in Ghana?
Use a checkout connected to a payment provider such as Paystack or Hubtel. The buyer approves the payment on their phone and the order is marked paid automatically, so nobody checks screenshots by hand.
Which mobile money networks can buyers pay with in Ghana?
The networks are MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash and AT Money. Check that your checkout accepts all three, because your buyers will not all use the same one.
Is a MoMo screenshot proof of payment?
No. A screenshot can be edited or reused. Only a confirmation from the payment provider, or the money arriving in your wallet, proves that a payment happened.
Ready to set up? Open your Makola store and check the complete buying flow.