Ghanaian Startup Gbe La Develops Voice-Based Tool to Make Mobile Money Safer

A Ghanaian startup team has developed a multilingual voice-command tool designed to help people carry out mobile money transactions without navigating text-based screens, addressing accessibility barriers that can expose users to financial fraud.

Gbe La, a team from Ho Technical University, won the Accra zonal competition of the 2026 MoMo Fintech Lab, beating nine other teams with its solution. The team is led by recent university graduate Delali Hannah Vordoagu.

Gbe La, which means "the voice" in Ewe, developed the tool to help users who struggle to read or understand the English-language prompts commonly used in digital financial services. Through voice commands in multiple local languages, users can interact with mobile money services without depending on another person to complete transactions on their behalf.

Vordoagu said the idea came from a relative who struggled to use text-based digital financial services and frequently asked other people for assistance. This dependence exposed her to fraud, prompting the team to develop a solution that could give users greater control over their transactions.

Five Teams Advance from Accra

Gbe La finished first among 10 teams that presented their innovations during the Southern Zone competition, held at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.

Four other teams also qualified for the next stage. AutoSave presented an automated digital savings solution, while the Virtual Tollbooth and Gantry System (VTAGS), also known as Frictionless Tolling, developed an automated road-toll payment platform.

EcoTrust Fund presented a solution connecting waste management with green finance, while AdaWise developed a digital financial management platform for small businesses and individual consumers.

Each of the five successful teams received GH¢5,000, a certificate and sponsor souvenirs. They will join 10 other teams selected from the Northern and Middle zones, bringing the national cohort to 15.

GH¢100,000 at Stake in National Finals

The selected teams will receive technical coaching, business mentorship and support to test their products with potential customers before the national competition.

The 2026 MoMo Fintech Lab attracted 1,791 applications nationwide, according to MobileMoney Fintech Limited (MMFL), which organises the programme in partnership with the Bank of Ghana.

The initiative brings together students, developers, entrepreneurs and technology innovators to develop solutions around payments, savings, credit, small-business services and other financial challenges.

The national Demo Day is scheduled for 3 December 2026 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Auditorium. The finalists will compete for cash prizes of up to GH¢100,000, alongside digital devices and further support to develop their products.