How to Get a USSD Shortcode for Your Business in Ghana

JDJoseph Dugu NarteyMarch 14, 202612 min read

How to get a USSD shortcode in Ghana: phone showing a USSD business menu beside the seven setup steps, MTN, Telecel and AirtelTigo network badges, the go-live stages for a dedicated code, and NCA Form AP19 documentation

Ghana has 41.8 million cellular mobile connections — equivalent to 119% of the total population, as reported by DataReportal’s Digital 2026 Ghana report, citing GSMA Intelligence. And as of 2023, USSD made up 70% of instant payment channels across Africa, as reported by TechCabal, citing AfricaNenda’s Inclusive Instant Payment Systems report.

Your customers already use USSD shortcodes every day. Here is how to get a USSD shortcode in Ghana for your business, from choosing the right code type to meeting NCA requirements to going live.

Prerequisite: You need a registered Ghanaian business, with company registration documents such as your Certificate of Incorporation, to apply for a dedicated USSD shortcode. A shared code is an extension of a code the NCA has already assigned, so you do not file your own application.

What Is a USSD Shortcode?

A USSD shortcode is a short numeric code that customers dial from any mobile phone to interact with your business in real time. The NCA’s application form for short codes allows a digit length of 3 to 6. Think of the codes your customers already dial to send mobile money or check their airtime balance.

Unlike SMS, USSD creates a live, interactive session. Customers navigate menus, submit data, and complete transactions — all without internet access, without downloading an app, and at zero data cost.

USSD shortcodes fall under the National Communications Authority’s (NCA) classification of Special Numbering Resources — non-geographic, non-network dependent codes used for data and voice services, regulated under Section 65 of the Electronic Communications Act 775.

For a deeper 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 decision shapes your cost, timeline, and customer experience. Here is how they compare.

Dedicated USSD Codes

A dedicated code gives your business exclusive ownership of a shortcode (e.g., *789#). You control every menu, every session, every interaction.

Best for: Businesses with high transaction volumes, financial services companies, brands that need full control over the customer experience.

Full brand ownership — the code is yours alone
Custom menu structure from the first dial
Higher setup and monthly costs
Longer provisioning timeline (NCA approval required)

Shared USSD Codes

A shared code lets multiple businesses operate under a single shortcode, each distinguished by a unique extension (e.g., *713*45#). Your provider manages the base code.

Best for: Startups, SMEs testing USSD for the first time, businesses with lower transaction volumes.

Lower barrier to entry — no NCA application of your own, because the base code is already assigned
Faster time to launch
Less brand control — customers dial a longer string
Shared infrastructure with other businesses

Quick Comparison

Factor	Dedicated Code	Shared Code
Investment level	Higher upfront and monthly investment	Lower barrier to entry
Brand exclusivity	Full ownership	Shared with extension
NCA application	Required	Not needed: base code already assigned
Time to go live	Longer: waits on NCA review and network activation	Much faster: provider already holds the base code
Best for	High-volume, enterprise	SMEs, testing/validation

The smart move: Start with a shared code to validate your USSD use case. Once you confirm demand and transaction volume, upgrade to a dedicated code for full brand control.

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

Whether you choose dedicated or shared, here are the seven steps to go from idea to live USSD service.

Want a provider that sets up the service for you? Start your USSD shortcode setup with Arkesel — we provision your dedicated or shared code across MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo and get you live.

Step 1: Define Your Use Case and Menu Flow

Before anything else, map out exactly what your USSD service does.

Ask yourself:

What action should customers complete via USSD? (Payments, account checks, registrations, surveys)
How many menu levels deep does the flow need to go?
What backend systems need to connect? (Payment gateways, CRMs, databases)

Sketch your menu tree on paper first. Every extra menu level increases drop-off. Keep it tight — three levels deep is the sweet spot for most use cases.

Step 2: Choose Between Dedicated and Shared Codes

Use the comparison framework above. Key factors to weigh:

Transaction volume. Processing thousands of sessions daily? Dedicated. Testing a new service? Shared.
Budget. A dedicated code requires a higher investment. Make sure the volume justifies it. Compare pricing.
Brand priority. If customers will associate the shortcode with your brand (like banks do), dedicated is the right call.
Speed to market. Need to launch quickly? Shared codes skip the NCA queue.

Step 3: Select a USSD Service Provider

Your provider (also called an aggregator) is the bridge between your business and the telecom networks. Choose carefully — this partner affects your uptime, session reliability, and speed to market.

When comparing USSD providers in Ghana, evaluate them on:

Cross-network support. Does the provider connect to MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo? A single-network solution leaves a portion of your customers unreachable.
Session management. USSD sessions time out after a period that the network and platform set, and it varies. Strong session handling prevents customers from losing their place mid-transaction.
Multi-level menu API. Does the provider’s API let your developers build branching, multi-level menus and keep track of session state?
Uptime and reliability. Downtime on a USSD service means lost transactions. Look for enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Integration options. REST APIs, webhook callbacks, and developer documentation make connecting your backend systems faster.

Arkesel’s USSD Solutions deliver custom USSD shortcode provisioning, multi-level menu design, and session management — with cross-network support across MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo built in.

Step 4: Prepare Your NCA Documentation

If you are going the dedicated code route, you need NCA approval. The key form is NCA Form AP19 — the official Application for Special Numbering Resource, available from the NCA numbering page.

The page 1 application checklist covers:

Completed NCA Form AP19
Cover letter
Business plan — describe your USSD service, menu structure, expected transaction volumes, and why you need a dedicated code
Non-refundable application fee — payment receipt must be attached
Company registration documents — such as your Certificate of Incorporation
Any other supporting documents you choose to include

Inside the form, you will also fill in:

Section C — Network / VAS provider details: name your Network Provider(s) and Value Added Service Provider.
Section D — Resource request: pick “Short Code” as the SNR type, choose your digit length (3–6), and nominate three preferred numbers (a primary plus two alternatives — the NCA may allocate any of them, or a different one).
Section D(d) — Lease period: six months or twelve months. USSD shortcodes in Ghana are leased, not permanently assigned — factor renewals into your total cost of ownership.
Section F — Billing model: standard, premium rate, shared cost, or toll-free.

The form also requires three certified passport photographs of the authorized representative, with company seal (page 5 of the form).

If you are using a shared code, you skip this step: your extension sits under a code that is already assigned.

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

For dedicated codes, expect the application to go through:

The NCA for shortcode allocation
Individual telecom operators (MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo) for network activation

If the NCA requests revisions to your application, every revision round adds to your wait, so a complete application is the fastest one.

For shared codes, the process is shorter. Your extension sits under a code that is already assigned, so your provider provisions it and you move to integration.

Step 6: Complete Integration and Testing

Once your code is provisioned, connect your backend systems and test thoroughly.

Integration checklist:

Connect your USSD provider’s API to your backend (payment gateway, CRM, database)
Implement session timeout handling — what happens when a customer’s session expires mid-flow?
Build error states — what does the customer see if a payment fails or a database query times out?
Set up logging and monitoring for every session

Testing checklist:

Test on all three networks (MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo)
Test on feature phones, not just smartphones
Simulate high concurrent sessions
Test every menu path, including dead ends and error states
Verify timeout behavior at each menu level

Do not skip cross-network testing. A code that works perfectly on MTN but fails on Telecel means you lose every Telecel customer at first dial.

Step 7: Launch and Monitor Performance

Go live, but treat launch day as the start, not the finish line.

Track these metrics from day one:

Session completion rate — what percentage of customers finish the full flow?
Drop-off points — which menu level loses the most users?
Average session duration — are customers spending too long navigating?
Error rates — how often do sessions fail due to timeouts or backend errors?
Network-specific performance — does one network have higher failure rates than others?

Optimize based on data. If a specific menu level shows high drop-off, simplify or restructure. Every abandoned session is a lost transaction.

How Much Does a USSD Shortcode Cost in Ghana?

USSD shortcode costs in Ghana depend on your code type (dedicated vs shared).

Dedicated codes require a higher upfront investment and ongoing monthly fees, but give you full brand ownership and custom menus. Shared codes have a lower barrier to entry with minimal setup costs.

Dedicated-code applicants also pay a non-refundable NCA application fee.

Pricing changes regularly. See current USSD pricing for the latest rates, or contact our team for a custom quote based on your expected volume.

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

Dedicated codes take longer, because they pass through NCA review and network activation before your own integration and testing (see Step 5). Shared codes go live much faster, for the reasons in Step 5.

NCA review is the stage you cannot speed up yourself. A complete application the first time avoids revision rounds.

Common Mistakes When Setting Up a USSD Shortcode in Ghana

Skipping the shared code validation phase. Committing to a dedicated code before proving your USSD use case is a costly gamble. Test with a shared code first. The data will tell you when to upgrade.

Designing menus that are too deep. Every additional menu level increases drop-off. If your flow requires five levels of navigation, rethink the structure. Three levels handles most use cases effectively.

Testing on one network only. Ghana has three major mobile networks. If you only test on MTN, you are blindsided when Telecel or AirtelTigo customers hit issues. Test across all networks before launch.

Ignoring session timeout handling. The USSD standard sets no fixed session length. Under the USSD technical specification (ETSI TS 123 090), the network releases a session, and it can release one early when a timer runs out. How long an idle session lasts is set by the network and the platform, and it varies. If your backend takes too long to respond, customers hit a dead screen. Build timeout handling into every step.

Choosing a single-network provider. If a provider cannot reach MTN, Telecel and AirtelTigo, your reach is fragmented. Pick a provider with cross-network support from the start.

Not planning for scale. A USSD service that handles 100 concurrent sessions will not survive a marketing push that drives 10,000. Discuss capacity planning with your provider upfront.

How Arkesel Simplifies USSD Shortcode Setup in Ghana

Reaching customers on three networks and keeping every session reliable takes infrastructure you would otherwise build yourself.

Arkesel’s USSD Solutions cover provisioning, setup and cross-network reach:

Custom USSD code provisioning — dedicated or shared, configured to your specifications
Multi-level menu API — build interactive flows without starting from scratch
Managed setup — no developers on your team? Arkesel builds the USSD menu for you
Session management — automatic session tracking with configurable timeouts, and interrupted sessions resume without losing the customer’s place
Cross-network support — reach customers on MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo through a single platform
Zero data cost for customers — works on any mobile device, feature phones included

USSD fits into a broader communication strategy alongside SMS, voice, and WhatsApp. For guidance on choosing the right channel mix for your African customers, see our channel strategy guide.

When evaluating how SMS and voice compare for business communication, USSD fills the gap that neither channel covers — real-time, interactive, zero-data engagement.

For businesses building omnichannel customer experiences, USSD is the channel that ensures no customer is left behind — regardless of their device or data plan.

Get Started with Your USSD Shortcode

Your customers are already dialing USSD codes every day. Give them a code that reaches your business.

Sign up for Arkesel to start building your USSD service, or contact our team for a consultation on dedicated shortcode provisioning.

From code provisioning to cross-network deployment — get your business accessible on every phone in Ghana.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Follow these seven steps: define your use case, choose between dedicated and shared codes, select a USSD provider, prepare NCA documentation (Form AP19 for dedicated codes), apply to the NCA and activate on the networks, complete integration and testing, then launch and monitor performance.

How much does a USSD shortcode cost in Ghana?

Dedicated codes require a higher upfront investment with ongoing monthly fees for full brand ownership. Shared codes offer a lower barrier to entry with minimal setup costs. Dedicated-code applicants also pay a non-refundable NCA application fee. Visit arkesel.com/pricing for current rates.

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

A dedicated code gives your business exclusive ownership of a shortcode (e.g., *789#) with full brand control and custom menus. A shared code lets multiple businesses operate under one base code with unique extensions (e.g., *713*45#), at 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 requires: a cover letter, a business plan describing your service, a non-refundable application fee, company registration documents, the name of your Network/VAS provider, and certified passport photographs. A shared code needs no NCA application of your own, because it is an extension of a code already assigned.

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

Dedicated codes take longer, because the application goes through NCA approval and network provisioning before integration testing. Shared codes go live much faster, because the base code is already assigned and connected.

How to Get a USSD Shortcode for Your Business in Ghana

How to Get a USSD Shortcode for Your Business in Ghana

What Is a USSD Shortcode?