Gh-Link

gh-link is GhIPSS’ interbank switching and processing system which interconnects financial institutions and systems of third party payment service providers. gh-link™ is a local electronic payment ecosystem based on the domestic ATM card with channels such as ATM, POS and Web.

gh-link™ provides the following services:

• Interbank Switching and Processing: As a result of its position as the central switch interconnecting financial institutions and third parties, gh-link™ switches, clears all interbank transactions and facilitates net settlement in Bank of Ghana RTGS
• Payment Gateway Services: gh-link™ provides web acquiring services to local online merchants for domestic ATM cards. This package comes with a merchant plug-in for enforcement of 3D secure authentication.
• 3D Secure Services: gh-link™ provides gh-secure™- its 3D secure platform- for all domestic card issuers as a second layer cardholder security for online payments. 
• Instant Interbank Transfer Service – GhIPSS INSTANT PAY (GIP): GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP)  allows payments to be sent across financial institutions electronically from one bank account to the other as a single immediate payment; from channels such as internet banking, mobile, ATM, POS or Teller system.
• Hosting Services: The gh-link™ hosting platform has a multi-institution feature which enables it to host several financial institutions uniquely and independently on the same system. gh-link™ hosting services provides, issuing and acquiring (Terminal Driving - ATM / POS) services
• Settlement Services: Aside its interbank settlement function for all its shared services, GhIPSS also provides reliable and efficient interbank settlement of financial transactions conducted by third party payment schemes such as MNO mobile money which involve payment exchanges between their scheme member financial institutions.

The gh-link™ platform has a multi-institution feature which enables it to host several financial institutions uniquely and independently on the same system.

This hosting package comes with a suite of services including:

CARD Management
A hosted gh-link™ institution will have its own card management system which interfaces with its banking host and gives it the ability to issue cards (either chip/magstripe) to its customers.

ATM Driving
A hosted gh-link™ institution also has the benefit of a high availability ATM driving service with ATM monitoring centrally (at the switch level) or decentrally (at the institution level).
gh-link™ ATM driving comes with Hybrid ATM capability (The ATM accepts both biometric(e-zwich) and standard cards) and other value added ATM products.

POS Driving
A hosted bank can also access gh-link™´s POS device driving and transaction processing solution which is designed to deliver multi-card (EMV, e-zwich & Proprietary cards) switching and processing. gh-link™´s POS devices thus provide merchants with great value and best in class retail solutions for their customers.
 
Hosting Services Customers

gh-link eCommerce is the electronic platform provided by GhIPSS which enables businesses, service providers, government agencies etc to offer their goods or services on the internet and receive payments from domestic (gh-link) ATM cards. All transactions occur in Ghana cedi. gh-link eCommerce has two components.

They are:

• The Internet Payment Gateway (IPG)
• The 3D secure platform

COMPONENT OF gh-link eCOMMERCE
The gh-link Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) is an ecommerce application/system on which internet merchants are setup to enable them receive payments from gh-link ATM cards. It facilitates the transmission of transaction information (e.g. Card details, amount etc.) to and responses from issuing banks (such as whether a transaction is approved or declined). It is the equivalent of a physical point of sale terminal located in a shop. The gh-link IPG will provide all its merchants with an MPI (merchant plug-in) to enable them enforce cardholder authentication on the 3Dsecure platform.

3DSecure is an online cardholder authentication technology. 3D Secure requires online shoppers to enter a unique password for example to help authenticate the identity of the cardholder at the time that the purchase is made. It is an important fraud prevention measure that can help to stop fraudulent transactions being made over the internet using stolen card details. The use of the 3D secure platform will be mandatory for all Issuers on the gh-link network. All ATM cards to be used on gh-link eCommerce will be required to register for this service.

BENEFITS OF gh-link eCOMMERCE
BUSINESSES

1. » Offering their goods or services online gives a business the opportunity to be open 24hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Each page on a web store is a sales person who doesn´t need to go on leave!!
2. » Very low running costs to keep an ecommerce store open for business compared to a brick and mortar store.
3. » Opportunity to reach new markets. A business put online can attract new customers (ATM card holders) beyond one´s territory or geographical location.
4. » Keep Eye on Consumers´ Buying Habit: One of the benefits of ecommerce is that businesses can easily keep a constant eye on consumers´ buying habits and interests to tailor special offers to suit their requirements leading to long-lasting relationships

CONSUMERS

1. » Easy & Convenient shopping: For many people in Ghana eCommerce has become one of the preferred ways of shopping as they enjoy the ease and convenience it offers with their ATM card. It also offers customers the luxury of buying products or services from their home at any time of day or night.
2. » Easy Price Comparison: Ecommerce provides consumer s an easier option to compare prices of items from different online stores and make their preferred choice

GOVERNMENT

1. » gh-link eCommerce can help government to deliver and receive payment for selected services online at reduced cost and in an improved way.
2. » gh-link eCommerce can bring about transparency in government collections / receipts and give government quicker access to funds, because funds collected electronically will hit government accounts directly.
3. » Ecommerce can expand the economy by creating jobs in shipping / courier / logistics etc
4. » Ecommerce can help reduce a country´s carbon footprint since customers need not to travel to shop thereby reducing vehicular traffic and air pollution.

GETTING STARTED
All prospective merchants to join the gh-link eCommerce Platform must have their application sponsored by a financial institution (FI); typically where they keep a business account.