Latest on the remittance project

After a few weeks of quiet, the Dlink remittance project is on full course again. The delay has been due to technical difficulties with computer work at the transmission level. These difficulties have now been resolved but it has meant the database of the pilot group members has been wiped out. But now things are on course. Some members of the core group of the pilot project have been able to successfully make transfers to each other. The process is functional. Re-registration of the rest of the members of the pilot group is currently going on. By this weekend, all pilot group members will be registered again. Full test remittances to Ghana will begin next week after the Easter holidays.

Twenty-one members of the Ghana Union are involved in the pilot project. They have all been issued with Visa cards drawn on a Swedbank account. Remittances will be made from this account. Twelve members of the pilot group have been able to acquire receivers in Ghana who have Visa Cards drawn on their Ghanaian accounts. 17 such accounts will be available for the study (some members have acquired two Visa account holders in Ghana). Those pilot group members who have not acquired visa card recipients in Ghana will still be able to test send monies to recipients within Sweden.

For the test run of remittances to Ghana, nominal amounts have been allocated in different currencies to each member of the pilot group. The Ghana Union thought this amount was too little for those who will make the effort in Ghana to collect monies sent to them. The Dlink management has agreed that this amount should be increased so that receivers in Ghana would be satisfied with the monies they receive.

After the test run, an evaluation will be made and all members of Ghana Union and all others who want to send monies to their relatives in different countries will be able to use the Dlink to make such transfers. The process is simple but will need some getting used to in the beginning. Once you are registered in the system, and you register all your recipients, you will be able to send monies to them any time you want to. You will be able to sit in the comfort of your home and send monies to your relatives. Once a contract is signed with a receiver, the details are kept in the databank and next time you wish to send money, you just have to call up the details of that receiver from your internet diasporalink site.

April 9th, 2009