Who this guide is for
This page is written for researchers, students, support agents, and everyday users who need accurate, step-by-step instructions for buying and managing prepaid airtime in Ghana. It covers MTN, Telecel (formerly Vodafone Ghana), and AirtelTigo (AT), including USSD codes, scratch-card recharge, Mobile Money purchase, buying for another number, and airtime transfer — with troubleshooting notes where networks commonly fail.
Last updated: August 2026. Network menus and short codes can change; if a code fails, confirm with the operator’s customer care line (100 on most networks) before assuming the code is wrong.
Quick answer — most common tasks
- Check MTN balance: dial
*124# - Recharge MTN with scratch card: dial
*134*PIN#(replace PIN with the 12–14 digit voucher number) - Recharge another MTN number with a voucher:
*144*024XXXXXXX*PIN# - Transfer MTN airtime (Me2U): dial
*198#(registration required — see below) - Buy airtime online / with MoMo (any network): Ewale web checkout or USSD
*714*22#→ Airtime
Ghana mobile number prefixes (2026)
Before you buy airtime for yourself or someone else, confirm the recipient network. Sending MTN credit to a Telecel number will fail. Ghana uses 10-digit local numbers starting with 0, or 12-digit international format starting with 233.
| Network | Common prefixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MTN Ghana | 024, 025, 053, 054, 055, 059 |
Largest network; MoMo via *170# |
| Telecel Ghana | 020, 050 |
Rebranded from Vodafone Ghana; many legacy Vodafone codes still work |
| AirtelTigo (AT) | 026, 027, 056, 057 |
Merger of Airtel + Tigo; some USSD menus differ by SIM origin |
Research note: Number portability means a prefix is a strong hint, not proof. If unsure, ask the recipient which network their SIM is on, or dial the network’s “check my number” code from their phone (MTN: *156#, AirtelTigo: *703#).
How to buy MTN airtime in Ghana
MTN prepaid airtime can be loaded through four main channels: scratch card (voucher), Mobile Money, third-party USSD/apps, and retail agents. Each channel suits a different situation.
Method 1 — Scratch card (voucher) on your own MTN line
- Buy an MTN recharge card from a licensed vendor (look for MTN branding and a scratch panel).
- Scratch the panel to reveal the PIN (typically 12–14 digits).
- Dial
*134*PIN#— replacePINwith the full voucher number, no spaces. - Press call. You should receive an SMS confirming the amount credited.
- Verify with
*124#.
Common failure: entering the serial number instead of the PIN, or omitting the trailing #. The PIN is under the scratch surface, not printed on the back label.
Method 2 — MTN Mobile Money (MoMo)
- Dial
*170#on the MTN line that holds your MoMo wallet. - Navigate to Airtime or Buy airtime (menu position may vary by MoMo version).
- Choose self or other number, enter amount, and confirm with your MoMo PIN.
- Airtime is usually credited within seconds; keep the MoMo receipt SMS.
You can also buy MTN airtime through bank apps, fintech wallets, and aggregator USSD codes (see Mobile Money section below) without opening the MTN MoMo menu directly.
Method 3 — Online / Ewale (any phone, no MTN app required)
- Visit ewalepay.com/payments/airtime or dial
*714*22#. - Select Airtime → MTN.
- Enter the recipient number (your number or someone else’s).
- Enter amount (minimum typically GH₵0.50 on Ewale).
- Approve payment with Mobile Money OTP on the paying number.
Method 4 — Retail agent
MTN authorized agents sell electronic top-up (E-top up) where they enter your number into a terminal and you pay cash. Useful when you have no MoMo balance and no scratch card. Always confirm the number on the agent’s screen before payment.
How to buy airtime for another MTN number
“Another MTN number” and “for someone else” mean the same thing: the paying wallet can differ from the credited line. Use the method that matches what you have — voucher, MoMo, or aggregator.
Option A — Scratch card to another MTN number
Dial from any phone (does not need to be the recipient’s handset):
*144*024XXXXXXX*PIN#
- Replace
024XXXXXXXwith the recipient’s 10-digit MTN number. - Replace
PINwith the voucher PIN you scratched. - The recipient receives an SMS; you do not need their phone physically.
Option B — MTN MoMo to another number
From *170#, choose airtime → Other number, enter the MTN number and amount. The debit comes from your MoMo wallet; credit lands on the recipient’s airtime balance.
Option C — Ewale / third-party
On Ewale USSD or web, select MTN and enter the recipient number explicitly. This is often the easiest way for parents topping up children’s lines or diaspora senders using a Ghana MoMo wallet.
How to buy MTN airtime for someone else (practical checklist)
- Confirm network — must be MTN (see prefix table).
- Confirm number — read it back digit-by-digit; wrong-number top-ups are usually non-refundable.
- Choose channel — voucher (*144*…), MoMo (*170#), or Ewale (*714*22# / web).
- Keep proof — SMS confirmation or MoMo transaction ID.
- Ask recipient to check —
*124#on their phone.
How to transfer MTN airtime (Me2U / Share Credit)
Transfer is different from buying: you move airtime already on your MTN balance to another MTN number. MTN’s consumer transfer service is commonly called Me2U or Share Credit.
Step 1 — Register for Me2U (one-time)
Send an SMS to 1329 in this format:
register 1234
Replace 1234 with a 4-digit PIN you will use for transfers. You should receive a confirmation SMS from MTN.
Step 2 — Transfer airtime
Dial *198# and follow prompts, or use the SMS format documented in MTN’s current Me2U menu. Typical constraints researchers should document:
- Both sender and receiver must be MTN Ghana numbers.
- Minimum and maximum transfer amounts apply (check *198# menu for current limits).
- A transfer fee may be deducted from your balance.
- You cannot transfer more than your available airtime balance.
Do not confuse Me2U transfer with MoMo “send money.” MoMo sends Ghana cedis; Me2U sends airtime credit. Reversing a mistaken transfer requires MTN customer care — success is not guaranteed.
How to check MTN airtime balance
The standard MTN Ghana balance enquiry code is:
*124#
- Dial from the MTN SIM whose balance you want.
- Balance appears on screen and/or via SMS depending on handset.
- This shows airtime credit, not MoMo wallet balance (MoMo:
*170#). - This does not show data bundle balance (data:
*138#or*567*4#for Mashup).
Related MTN codes useful in research tables:
*156#— display your MTN mobile number*400#— SIM registration status100— MTN call centre
How to load MTN airtime & how to recharge MTN
“Load” and “recharge” are everyday Ghanaian terms for adding prepaid credit. All paths below add voice/SMS airtime unless you explicitly buy a data bundle.
| Goal | Code / channel | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Recharge own line (voucher) | *134*PIN# |
Cash already paid at shop |
| Recharge other MTN line (voucher) | *144*NUMBER*PIN# |
Cash already paid at shop |
| Recharge with MoMo | *170# → Airtime |
MoMo wallet |
| Borrow when balance is zero | *506# (XtraTime / borrow) |
Repaid on next recharge + fee |
| Cross-network purchase | *714*22# or Ewale web |
Any MoMo wallet |
How to buy Telecel airtime
Telecel Ghana (formerly Vodafone Ghana) uses the same core recharge pattern as MTN for scratch cards:
- Balance check:
*124# - Scratch card recharge:
*134*PIN# - Customer care:
100 - Transfer credit to another Telecel number:
*516#(menu) or structured dial*516*020XXXXXXX*amount*PIN# - Data bundles:
*700#
For MoMo-based Telecel top-up without a Telecel app, use Ewale: dial *714*22#, choose Airtime → Telecel, enter the 020/050 number, pay with Mobile Money.
See also: Telecel/Vodafone shortcodes table for the full reference list.
How to buy AirtelTigo airtime
AirtelTigo merged Airtel and Tigo infrastructure. Most airtime tasks use shared codes, but borrow-airtime codes differ by legacy SIM type.
- Balance check:
*124# - Scratch card recharge:
*134*PIN# - Check your number:
*703# - Data bundles:
*111# - Borrow airtime (legacy Tigo SIM):
*588# - Borrow airtime (legacy Airtel SIM):
*130# - AirtelTigo Money:
*110# - Customer care:
100
Cross-network MoMo top-up for AT numbers: Ewale *714*22# → Airtime → AT → enter 026/027/056/057 number.
Full table: AirtelTigo shortcodes reference.
How to buy airtime online in Ghana
“Online” in Ghana usually means one of these — not all require installing an app:
- Mobile web checkout — e.g. Ewale airtime page in any browser; pay with MoMo OTP.
- Network self-care apps — MTN Ghana app, Telecel app, AirtelTigo app (require download + login).
- Bank / fintech apps — many Ghanaian banking apps include bill pay and airtime modules.
- Aggregator USSD — counts as “digital” though not a website:
*714*22#.
For researchers comparing channels: web/USSD aggregators are often the lowest-friction option on feature phones and shared family devices where installing telco apps is impractical.
How to buy airtime with Mobile Money
Ghana has three major MoMo ecosystems: MTN MoMo (*170#), Telecel Cash, and AirtelTigo Money (*110#). Important rule: the paying wallet does not have to match the recipient network when using a multi-network aggregator.
| Channel | MTN recipient | Telecel recipient | AT recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN *170# airtime menu | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ewale *714*22# / web | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scratch card *134* / *144* | ✓ (network-specific card) | ✓ (Telecel card) | ✓ (AT card) |
Typical MoMo payment flow on Ewale: enter recipient → enter amount → receive OTP on paying number → approve → airtime credited (usually < 60 seconds). Save the transaction reference if supporting a customer.
How to buy airtime without an app
No smartphone app is required for any of these:
- USSD aggregator:
*714*22#→ Airtime (works on feature phones). - Network USSD:
*134*PIN#,*124#,*170#, etc. - Scratch cards from any street vendor.
- Agent E-top up at mobile money/agent shops.
USSD sessions time out after inactivity (often 30–60 seconds). If the menu drops, redial and restart — verify whether MoMo was debited before retrying to avoid double payment.
How to buy airtime for someone in Ghana (from abroad or another city)
Diaspora senders and remote family support commonly use:
- Ewale web — pay with a Ghana MoMo wallet you control remotely, or a trusted relative’s wallet on the phone beside you.
- International remittance airtime services — verify fees and exchange rates; not covered in detail here.
- Scratch card PIN sent by WhatsApp — recipient dials *134*PIN# locally (risk: PIN interception; prefer direct top-up).
- Bank app airtime module — if your Ghana bank account links to MoMo.
Always collect the recipient’s exact 10-digit number in international format (233XXXXXXXXX) when coordinating across time zones.
MTN airtime codes Ghana — reference table
Consolidated MTN codes most cited in Ghana airtime research (also see full MTN shortcodes table):
| Task | USSD / code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MTN balance check code | *124# |
Airtime credit only |
| MTN recharge code (own line) | *134*PIN# |
PIN from scratch card |
| MTN recharge code (other line) | *144*NUMBER*PIN# |
Recipient must be MTN |
| Transfer / share airtime | *198# |
Register via SMS to 1329 first |
| MoMo wallet | *170# |
Buy airtime from MoMo balance |
| Borrow airtime | *506# |
XtraTime; fees apply |
| Check my number | *156# |
Useful before topping up “other” |
| Multi-network top-up | *714*22# |
Ewale — MTN, Telecel, AT |
Ewale step-by-step: buy airtime on *714*22#
- Dial
*714*22#from any Ghana mobile network. - Select Airtime.
- Choose network: MTN (1), Telecel (2), or AT (3).
- Enter recipient mobile number (self or other).
- Enter amount in Ghana cedis (minimum GH₵0.50).
- Confirm summary → approve MoMo OTP on the paying number.
- Recipient receives airtime; save confirmation SMS.
Web equivalent: ewalepay.com/payments/airtime — same logic, useful on Wi‑Fi-only devices with MoMo on a second phone.
Troubleshooting — what researchers should log
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| “Invalid PIN” on *134# | Wrong digits, serial vs PIN, already used voucher | Re-scratch carefully; buy new voucher if used |
| MoMo debited, no airtime | Network delay or session timeout | Wait 5 min; check *124#; call support with MoMo ID |
| *144# fails | Recipient not MTN or wrong number length | Verify 10-digit format and network |
| *198# transfer rejected | Not registered, over limit, insufficient balance | Register to 1329; check *124# balance |
| USSD menu disappears | Session timeout | Redial; do not pay twice unless first failed |
Security notes for field researchers
- Never share MoMo PIN or Me2U PIN with agents — legitimate top-up never requires it.
- Buy scratch cards only from licensed vendors; counterfeit vouchers are common in some markets.
- Screenshot or SMS-log transaction IDs when studying payment reliability.
- Wrong-number transfers are a leading cause of consumer loss — automate digit validation in any app you build.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MTN balance check code in Ghana?
*124# — dial and press call on the MTN SIM.
What is the MTN recharge code for scratch cards?
*134*PIN# for your line; *144*NUMBER*PIN# for another MTN line.
Can I buy MTN airtime with Telecel MoMo?
Not via *170# (MTN-only). Use a multi-network channel such as Ewale *714*22# where the payment rail accepts your wallet type.
Is transferring airtime the same as buying airtime?
No. Transfer (*198# Me2U) moves existing credit. Buying adds new credit via voucher, MoMo, or aggregator.
How do I buy airtime for someone in another region of Ghana?
Airtime is network-based, not location-based. Any valid Ghana mobile number can be topped up remotely if you use *144#, MoMo “other number”, or Ewale.
Related guides
- Borrow airtime & data (MTN *506#)
- Ghana network prefixes (024, 020, 027…)
- How to check your phone number
- Mobile Money USSD codes (*170# / *110#)
- MTN shortcodes table (full list)
- Telecel / Vodafone shortcodes table
- AirtelTigo shortcodes table
- Understanding data bundles in Ghana
- Shortcode payments on *714*22#
Summary
Ghana airtime purchase boils down to three mechanics: voucher dial (*134* / *144*), MoMo debit (*170# or aggregators), and balance transfer (*198# Me2U on MTN only). Telecel and AirtelTigo share *124# and *134* patterns; MTN adds *144* for gifting vouchers and *198# for peer transfer. For cross-network MoMo top-up without installing apps, *714*22# and the Ewale web checkout cover MTN, Telecel, and AT in one flow — the pattern most useful when researching inclusive digital payments across all three operators.
Support: Ewale — dial *714*22# and select Support, or email walletewale@gmail.com. Network issues on operator codes: dial 100 from the relevant SIM.