UniMAC NAFTI INTRODUCES DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR FEE PAYMENT
Front view of UniMAC NAFTI Campus, (Studio I).
Management of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) part of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC NAFTI Campus) has introduced digital payment platforms for students to pay school and hostel fees at their convenience.
Ghana.gov.gh, one of the new digital payment platforms introduced by the management of UniMAC NAFTI Campus
This was made possible by the use of mobile money and the Ghana.gov.gh payment systems. This new payment system took effect on 3rd February 2023, the beginning of the second semester of the 2022/2023 academic year.
The school organized a one-day workshop on Friday 10th February 2023 to orient the students on how the newly introduced method of payment works. Moderator for the workshop was Stanley Opoku-Yeboah, the Director of Works and Physical Development/Head of the Technical Department at UniMAC NAFTI Campus.
Initially, students paid their fees through various GCB bank branches across the country, where students were expected to pick a pay-in slip, fill it out and then pay their fees into UniMAC NAFTI's GCB bank account through tellers in the banking hall.
Customers filling out pay-in slips to make payment through tellers at the Trade Fair Site branch of GCB Bank.
Queuing in the banking hall to pay fees is now a thing of the past, with the introduction of the digital payment platforms
Customers making payment through tellers at the Labone branch of GCB Bank. Payment can be made now into UniMAC NAFTI's GCB bank account without moving to the banking hall.
Bank cheques were also accepted in the school's finance office as part of the traditional method of payment.
Ghana.gov.gh and the Mobile Money transfer payment systems has done away with the stress involved in filling out a cheque deposit form to make payment in the banking hall
Students of UniMAC NAFTI Campus now have access to digital receipts (messages/notifications) after making payment using any of the digital payment platforms
Moreover, the GCB Bank make provisions for both traditional and digital payment.
Front view of GCB Bank, High Street Branch. The financial organization that features in both the traditional and digital payment methods
The newly introduced payment system comes with two payment options; the Mobile Money transfer option, where students can still pay their fees into UniMAC NAFTI's GCB bank account through mobile money transfer with their mobile phones using any of the telecommunication networks in Ghana. Below is a payment procedure for MTN users:
Dial *170# > SELECT: 1) Transfer Money > 6) Bank Account > 1) Wallet to Bank Account > 3) GCB > 6) Enter Bank Account Number - 1191130004807 > Confirm Bank Account Number - 1191130004807 > Enter Amount to Transfer > Enter Reference ID > Enter MOMO Pin to Confirm Payment.
Paying school fees into UniMAC NAFTI's GCB Bank account can be done easily using mobile money transfer with a mobile phone
The Ghana.gov.gh payment platform require students to sign up to the payment platform where an internet connection, email address and a password is required before payment can be made.
A section of the Ghana.gov.gh payment platform which require students to provide an email address, password and other personal information to sign up
However, students with existing Ghana.gov.gh account only have to sign into their accounts to make payments. All payments made through this method goes to the Bank of Ghana.
A student with an existing account ready to sign in to the Ghana.gov.gh payment platform to make payment
Isaac L. Asante, an assistant accountant at UniMAC NAFTI explains the role of the finance department in the new payment system, and also pointed out the flexibility that the new payment system has brought to the finance office.
Isaac L. Asante, an assistant accountant at UniMAC NAFTI Campus, checking students' financial statements on his computer in the accounts office.
He said, "moving into a cashless system is a plus, going to the bank, the timing, and the queuing has been done away with. It is a bit faster now, a bit very easy to pay and get activated, and on our side, it is a bit easy and flexible too".
According to Stanley Opoku-Yeboah, the Director of Works and Physical Development/Head of the Technical Department at UniMAC NAFTI, students should embrace the digital payment system despite its teething challenges.
Stanley Opoku-Yeboah, the Director of Works and Physical Development at UniMAC NAFTI Campus, signing in to the Ghana.gov.gh payment platform on his computer
He added that, "it is a government policy of digitalizing almost every process in the country, and as a public institution, we cannot do things on our own, so if the government rolls out a policy, it is up to NAFTI to join, and NAFTI is one of the first institutions that got on board the Ghana.gov. We are trying to use everything that we have for now, but gradually we will be fading out any old method of payment".
However, there are different reactions from the students in relation to the introduction of the new payment system.
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