How to Create a USSD Code for Your Business in Ghana

JDJoseph Dugu NarteyMarch 14, 202615 min read

How to get a USSD shortcode in Ghana: phone showing a business USSD menu on *928*24# beside the seven setup steps, MTN, Telecel and AT network badges, the two approvals for a dedicated code (NCA assignment, then network approval), and NCA Form AP19 documentation

You have two ways to get a USSD code for your business in Ghana. The quick one is a shared extension on Arkesel’s *928# code, such as *928*24#: you make no application of your own, and according to Arkesel’s USSD API page, a shared extension can go live the same day. The other is a dedicated shortcode of your own. It needs an assignment from the National Communications Authority (NCA) and approval from each mobile network. Arkesel puts the network stage alone at 1–2 months, and the NCA stage comes before it.

Arkesel can set up either route. Talk to us about a shortcode and we’ll help you choose between them.

USSD reaches customers on the phones they already carry. Ghana had 41.8 million cellular mobile connections in late 2025, equivalent to 119 percent of the total population, as reported by DataReportal’s Digital 2026 Ghana report, citing GSMA Intelligence. Across Africa, USSD made up 70% of instant payment channels as of June 2023, as reported by TechCabal, citing AfricaNenda’s report on inclusive instant payment systems.

Before you start: for a dedicated shortcode, the NCA’s application checklist includes your company registration documents, so have them ready. A shared extension needs no NCA application of your own, because it sits under a code the NCA has already assigned.

What Is a USSD Shortcode?

A USSD shortcode is a short code that customers dial from a mobile phone, such as *928#, to open a menu from your business. They choose options by number, and your service responds on the same screen while the session is open.

Unlike SMS, USSD runs a live session. Customers move through menus, enter details and confirm payments as they go. It works on any mobile device, feature phones included, needs no app, and costs your customers nothing in data.

In regulatory terms, a Ghana short code for USSD is a Special Numbering Resource. The NCA’s numbering page describes these as non-geographic, non-network-dependent codes, and sets out the NCA’s mandate to manage Ghana’s numbering plan under Section 65 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). The NCA’s application form for short codes allows a digit length of 3 to 6.

For a wider look at how businesses across the continent use USSD to build interactive customer experiences without an app, start with our guide.

Dedicated vs Shared USSD Codes: Which One Fits Your Business?

This choice sets your cost, your timeline and how much control you have over the code.

Dedicated USSD Codes

A dedicated code belongs to your business alone. You decide every menu, and every session on the code is yours.

Best for: businesses with high transaction volumes, financial services companies, and brands that want customers to remember the code itself.

The code carries your brand and no one else’s
You design the menu from the first dial
Higher setup and running costs
A longer route to launch, because the NCA assigns the code and each network approves it

Shared USSD Codes

A shared code gives your business an extension on a base code that a provider already holds. With Arkesel, the base code is *928#, and your customers dial an extension such as *928*24#.

Best for: startups, SMEs trying USSD for the first time, and businesses with lower transaction volumes.

Lower barrier to entry: no NCA application of your own, because the base code is already assigned
Faster launch: Arkesel says an extension can go live the same day
Less brand control, because customers dial a longer string
You share the base code with other businesses

Quick Comparison

Factor	Dedicated Code	Shared Code
Investment level	Higher upfront and ongoing investment	Lower barrier to entry
Brand exclusivity	The code is yours alone	An extension on a shared base code
NCA application	Required (Form AP19)	Not needed: the base code is already assigned
Time to go live	NCA assignment, plus network approval that Arkesel says takes 1–2 months	Can go live the same day, per Arkesel
Best for	High volume, full brand control	SMEs, testing a new service

Our recommendation: start with a shared code to test your USSD service. Once you see steady use and transaction volume, move to a dedicated code for full brand control.

See how Arkesel’s USSD API works for shared extensions and dedicated codes.

Step-by-Step: How to Get a USSD Shortcode in Ghana

To create a USSD code for your business in Ghana on the dedicated route, work through all seven steps below. On the shared route, skip steps 4 and 5: your extension sits under a base code the NCA has already assigned, so after step 3 your provider sets it up and you go straight to step 6. With Arkesel, that base code is *928#, already live on MTN, Telecel and AT.

Step 1: Define Your Use Case and Menu Flow

Decide what customers should do when they dial your code before you choose a code type.

What should customers complete: a payment, a balance check, a registration or a survey?
How many menu levels does the flow need?
Which of your systems does it connect to: a payment gateway, a customer database or a CRM?

Sketch the menu tree first and keep it shallow. Every extra screen is one more step the customer has to finish before the session closes. Our guide to USSD menu design covers how to structure it.

Step 2: Choose Between Dedicated and Shared Codes

Use the comparison above, and weigh these factors:

Transaction volume. Running thousands of sessions a day, or about to? Choose dedicated. Testing a new service? Choose shared.
Budget. A dedicated code needs a higher investment, so check that your volume justifies it. Compare pricing.
Brand priority. If you want customers to link the code itself to your brand, choose dedicated.
Speed to market. Need to launch quickly? A shared extension skips the NCA application.

Step 3: Select a USSD Service Provider

Your provider connects your service to the mobile networks and keeps each session running. Check these points before you sign:

Network coverage. A provider that reaches only one network leaves customers on the others unable to use your code. Arkesel USSD runs on direct connections to MTN, Telecel and AT.
Session handling. According to Arkesel, a USSD session stays open for 150 to 180 seconds. Ask what happens when a session drops before the customer finishes. Arkesel’s session management resumes interrupted sessions without losing user context.
Menu API and documentation. Can your developers build branching, multi-level menus through the provider’s API, with documentation they can follow?
Setup help. If you have no developers, will the provider build the menu for you? Arkesel offers a managed setup for teams in that position.

For the full comparison, read our guide to choosing a USSD shortcode provider in Ghana.

Step 4: Prepare Your NCA Documentation

On the dedicated route, the key document is NCA Form AP19, the Application for Special Numbering Resource, which is listed on the NCA numbering page.

The checklist on page 1 of the form asks for:

A completed application form
A cover letter
A business plan. Describe your USSD service, its menu, your expected transaction volumes and why you need a dedicated code.
A non-refundable application fee, with the payment receipt attached
Company registration documents
Any other supporting documents you want to list

Inside the form, you also fill in:

Section C, network provider details: the names of your network provider(s) or value added service provider.
Section D, the resource request: choose “Short Code” as the type, tick USSD, set the digit length (3 to 6), and name a preferred code plus two alternatives. The NCA is not bound to allocate any of them and may assign a different code.
Section D(d), lease period: six months or twelve months. The code is leased rather than assigned permanently, so plan for renewal in your running costs.
Section F, billing: premium, standard, shared or toll-free billing.

Page 5 asks for 3 certified passport photographs of your authorised representative, with the company seal.

If you don’t yet hold an NCA certificate for the code, Arkesel helps you apply for one. The application is yours to make, in your company’s name, and Arkesel guides you through it. If you already hold one, you share it with Arkesel along with an authorisation letter.

Step 5: Apply to the NCA and Activate on the Networks

A dedicated code needs two approvals:

The NCA, which assigns the shortcode
Each network (MTN, Telecel and AT), which must approve the code

The NCA stage comes first and is separate. Once the code is assigned, Arkesel applies to the networks on your behalf. According to Arkesel, this network approval takes 1–2 months, because each network must approve the code. That figure covers the network stage only, not the NCA assignment before it. Send the NCA a complete application the first time, so you are not waiting on corrections.

On the shared route this step does not apply. Arkesel sets up your extension on *928#, and you move on to integration.

Step 6: Complete Integration and Testing

Once your code is set up, connect it to your systems and test it.

Integration checklist:

Connect the USSD API to your backend: payment gateway, customer database or CRM
Decide what happens when a session ends partway through a flow
Write the error screens: what does the customer see if a payment fails or your system is slow to respond?
Log every session so you can trace problems

Testing checklist:

Test on MTN, Telecel and AT
Test on feature phones as well as smartphones
Simulate many sessions at once
Try every menu path, including wrong entries and dead ends

If your team is writing the menu code, our guide to building your USSD menu walks through it, and our guide to USSD application testing covers load tests and the tools to use.

Step 7: Launch and Monitor Performance

Track these from the first day:

Session completion rate: how many customers finish the flow?
Drop-off points: which screen loses the most people?
Average session length: are customers taking too long to get through?
Error rate: how often do sessions fail on timeouts or backend errors?
Results by network: is one network failing more often than the others?

Where one screen shows heavy drop-off, simplify it or split the choice differently.

How Businesses Make Money With a USSD Code

A business makes money from a USSD code by running a service on it, either collecting revenue or cutting costs.

Collect payments. Your USSD menu can take Mobile Money payments through the payment gateway of your choice; your developer connects the gateway to the menu. Customers can, for example, pay a bill, a premium or a loan instalment without leaving the menu.
Sell airtime, data and subscriptions. Customers can buy, sign up and renew from any phone, whether or not they have mobile data.
Register and onboard customers. USSD registration lets customers open an account, join a policy or enrol in a loyalty programme by dialling a code.
Reduce support costs. A self-service menu can answer balance, status and account questions that would otherwise come to your phone lines.

The money itself moves through the gateway you choose. The USSD menu is where the customer starts and confirms the payment. For more on this, read our guide to USSD and mobile money.

How Much Does a USSD Shortcode Cost in Ghana?

The cost depends on the route you choose. A dedicated code needs a higher upfront and ongoing investment, in return for a code that is yours alone. A shared extension has a lower barrier to entry. On the dedicated route you also pay the NCA’s non-refundable application fee.

Prices change, so see current USSD pricing for the latest rates, or contact our team for a quote based on your expected volume.

How Long Does It Take to Get a USSD Shortcode in Ghana?

A shared extension on *928# can go live the same day, according to Arkesel, because there is no application of your own to make.

A dedicated shortcode goes through two separate stages, one after the other:

NCA assignment. You apply to the NCA for the code through Form AP19. If you don’t already hold a certificate, Arkesel guides you through the application, but you make it yourself. No fixed duration is given for this stage.
Network approval. Once the NCA has assigned the code, each network must approve it. Arkesel says network approval takes 1–2 months.

The 1–2 months is therefore not the end-to-end time. Add the NCA stage before it, and leave time for your own integration and testing as well.

Common Mistakes When Setting Up a USSD Shortcode in Ghana

Skipping the shared-code test. Committing to a dedicated code before you know customers will use your service is an expensive bet. Test with a shared code first and let the usage tell you when to move.

Designing menus that are too deep. Each extra level is another screen to complete before the session closes. If your flow needs five levels, rethink it.

Testing on one network only. If you test only on MTN, problems for Telecel or AT customers stay hidden until launch day.

Ignoring session timeouts. If your backend responds slowly, customers can run out of session time and land on a dead screen. Build timeout handling into every step.

Not planning for capacity. A marketing campaign can send far more people to your code at once than an ordinary day. Agree on capacity with your provider before the campaign starts.

How Arkesel Simplifies USSD Shortcode Setup in Ghana

Arkesel’s USSD Solutions cover the code, the menu and the network approvals. Arkesel is a licensed value-added service (VAS) provider in Ghana, and that licence is what allows it to set up USSD codes for its customers. With Arkesel you get:

Shared or dedicated codes. Start on a *928# extension, or have Arkesel take your dedicated code through network approval.
Help with the NCA application. If you don’t hold an NCA certificate for your code, Arkesel guides you through the application you make.
Multi-level menu API. Your developers build interactive flows through the API.
Managed setup. No developers on your team? Arkesel builds the USSD menu for you.
Session management. Interrupted sessions resume without the customer losing their place.
Zero data cost for customers. Your code works on any mobile device, feature phones included.

Get Started with Your USSD Shortcode

Sign up for Arkesel to start building your USSD service, or contact our team to talk through a shared extension or a dedicated shortcode for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a USSD shortcode for my business in Ghana?

Choose a route first. For a shared extension, you work with a provider that already holds a base code; with Arkesel that is *928#, and your extension can go live the same day with no application of your own. For a dedicated code, you apply to the NCA with Form AP19, and your provider then takes the code through each network’s approval; Arkesel does this with MTN, Telecel and AT.

Where do I get a USSD code in Ghana?

You get a shared extension from a USSD provider that holds a base code. A dedicated code is assigned by the NCA, and a provider then connects it to the networks. Arkesel offers both routes.

How much does a USSD shortcode cost in Ghana?

A dedicated code needs a higher upfront and ongoing investment, and dedicated-code applicants also pay a non-refundable NCA application fee. A shared extension has a lower barrier to entry. See arkesel.com/pricing for current rates.

What is the difference between a dedicated and shared USSD code?

A dedicated code belongs to your business alone, with full brand control and your own menus. A shared code gives you an extension on a base code that a provider holds, such as *928*24# on *928#, at a lower cost but with less brand control.

What documents do I need for a USSD shortcode application in Ghana?

For a dedicated code, NCA Form AP19 asks for a cover letter, a business plan, a non-refundable application fee, company registration documents, the name of your network or value added service provider, and 3 certified passport photographs of your authorised representative. A shared extension needs no NCA application of your own.

How long does it take to get a USSD shortcode in Ghana?

According to Arkesel, a shared extension can go live the same day. A dedicated code needs the NCA’s assignment first, then approval from each network. Arkesel’s 1–2 months covers the network approval only; the NCA stage is separate and comes before it.

Is a shared USSD code legal?

A shared code is an extension of a code the NCA has already assigned, which is why you make no NCA application of your own. Arkesel’s shared extensions sit under its *928# base code, and Arkesel is a licensed value-added service (VAS) provider in Ghana, the licence that allows it to set up USSD codes for its customers.

Can I make money with a free USSD code?

A business makes money by running a service on its own code, for example by collecting Mobile Money payments through a payment gateway, selling airtime or subscriptions, or registering customers.

How to Create a USSD Code for Your Business in Ghana

How to Create a USSD Code for Your Business in Ghana

What Is a USSD Shortcode?