By Kumasi, the bustling heart of Ghana’s Ashanti Region, is a commercial juggernaut, with its Kejetia Market and Adum trading hubs fueling a $1 billion economy. In 2025, the city of 2 million is riding a digital wave, as mobile money and e-commerce transform how traders, entrepreneurs, and consumers operate.
From street vendors to tech startups, Kumasi’s business landscape is evolving, blending traditional market savvy with digital innovation. This article explores the rise of mobile money and e-commerce in Kumasi, their impact on the city’s commerce, and the opportunities and challenges shaping its vibrant business future.
The Rise of Mobile Money
Mobile money has become Kumasi’s financial lifeline. Platforms like MTN MoMo and Vodafone Cash handle 600,000 cedis daily in Kejetia Market alone, enabling traders to accept payments via phone. “No need for cash anymore,” said vendor Afi Mensah, who processes 200 transactions daily. With 70% of Kumasi’s adults using mobile money, the city leads Ghana’s digital payment revolution, driven by convenience and trust.
The growth stems from Ghana’s telecom boom in the 2010s, when mobile penetration soared. By 2025, 15,000 mobile money agents operate in Kumasi, from Suame’s mechanic shops to Bantama’s food stalls. These agents, earning 2% commission per transaction, support small businesses, with vendors reporting 25% sales increases.
“Mobile money brings customers,” said trader Kwame Asante. Banks like GCB integrate mobile apps, allowing seamless transfers, further embedding digital payments in Kumasi’s markets.
E-Commerce Takes Root
E-commerce is reshaping Kumasi’s retail. Platforms like Jumia and Tonaton, Ghana’s leading online marketplaces, connect 10,000 Kumasi vendors to nationwide buyers. “I sell kente to Accra without leaving Adum,” said cloth merchant Ama Yeboah. In 2025, e-commerce generates 50 million cedis annually in Kumasi, with 30% of residents shopping online. Social media, particularly WhatsApp and Instagram, drives sales, with 5,000 traders using group chats to market goods.
Startups fuel this growth. Kumasi-based ShopZetu, launched in 2023, offers a platform for artisans, handling 1,000 orders monthly. “We’re digital hawkers,” said founder Kofi Amoah. Delivery services, like Glovo’s 200 riders in Kumasi, ensure same-day shipping, boosting consumer trust. The city’s tech hub, KNUST’s Innovation Centre, supports 50 e-commerce startups, training youth in digital marketing. “E-commerce is our future,” said student Afi Mensah.
Community-Driven Innovation
Kumasi’s traders embrace digital tools with communal zeal. Market associations in Kejetia train 1,000 vendors yearly on mobile money apps, ensuring even rural farmers adapt. “We learn together,” said leader Fatuma Said. Women, who dominate 65% of market stalls, lead adoption, using e-commerce to sell shea butter and yams globally. “Digital tools empower us,” said vendor Ama Yeboah.
Cooperatives in Asokore Mampong pool funds to buy smartphones, enabling 200 small traders to join e-commerce. Churches and mosques in Bantama host workshops, reaching 600 residents monthly on safe online transactions. “We protect our money,” said imam Kofi Owusu. Youth in Suame, known for auto parts, create Instagram shops, selling to Nigeria and Togo. These efforts reflect Kumasi’s collective drive, turning digital tools into economic opportunity.
Economic and Social Impact
The digital boom fuels Kumasi’s economy. Mobile money and e-commerce contribute 15% to the city’s GDP, creating 5,000 jobs, from app developers to delivery riders. “Business is faster now,” said Kwame Asante.
Cross-border trade, facilitated by e-commerce, brings 20 million cedis yearly, with Kumasi’s kente and gold reaching Europe. Small businesses, like food stalls in Manhyia, report 30% profit growth, as digital payments attract younger customers.
Socially, digital commerce empowers marginalized groups. Women traders, once limited to local markets, now access global buyers, boosting incomes by 40%. “I support my family,” said Afi Mensah.
Youth, facing 12% unemployment, find work in e-commerce logistics, with 1,000 employed as riders. Rural farmers, linked to Kumasi via apps, sell directly, cutting middlemen. “We’re connected now,” said farmer Kwesi Appiah from Ejisu.
Challenges to Digital Growth
Kumasi’s digital business faces hurdles. Cyber fraud, targeting mobile money, costs vendors 30,000 cedis yearly. “Scammers are clever,” said Fatuma Said. Cybersecurity tools, at 15 cedis monthly, are unaffordable for small traders, and only 10% access training. Internet outages in areas like Amakom disrupt e-commerce, with 20% of orders delayed during rains. “We need better networks,” said Kofi Amoah.
High platform fees, like Jumia’s 10% commission, squeeze profits, while delivery costs, at 10 cedis per order, deter rural buyers. “It’s expensive,” said Ama Yeboah. Digital literacy lags among older traders, with 30% struggling to use apps. Economic inequality persists, as wealthier Adum merchants outpace smaller stalls in Asokore Mampong. These challenges test Kumasi’s ability to sustain its digital boom.
Government and Community Support
Kumasi’s digital growth is bolstered by local efforts. The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly funds 50 Wi-Fi hotspots, serving 5,000 traders daily. “Connectivity is key,” said official Kofi Owusu. The Ghana Digital Agenda trains 2,000 youth in e-commerce skills, targeting rural areas like Kwadaso. Market associations secure low-interest loans, helping 300 vendors buy smartphones.
A 2025 Kumasi Trade Summit will showcase digital startups, aiming to attract investors. “We’re building a tech city,” said Afi Mensah. Cooperatives plan solar-powered charging stations to counter outages, ensuring app access. These initiatives, rooted in Kumasi’s communal ethos, drive inclusive growth, though funding shortages limit rural reach.
Kumasi’s Business Future in 2025
In 2025, Kumasi’s mobile money and e-commerce surge is redefining commerce. From Kejetia’s stalls to tech hubs, digital tools empower traders and youth, fueling a vibrant economy. “Kumasi leads the way,” said Kwame Asante. Yet, fraud, costs, and inequality demand solutions.
As the city blends tradition with innovation, its business community looks to expand digital access, ensuring all share in the boom, a testament to Kumasi’s entrepreneurial spirit.
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