Yes, you can start it yourself. MTN Ghana says you dial *170#, select Option 6 My Wallet, choose Option 8 Reversal, pick the transaction and confirm your request. The recipient then gets a prompt to approve the reversal, and if they approve, the money returns to your wallet automatically[1]. If the recipient does not approve, email customercare.gh@mtn.com with the transaction details and MTN will hold the money and begin the normal reversal process.
Updated October 2026
If you have sent MoMo to the wrong number, MTN Ghana lets you start a reversal from your own phone. Videos online sometimes show codes from other MTN markets, so use only the Ghana steps below.
Can you reverse money sent to the wrong MTN number?
You do not have to wait for an agent to do it for you. MTN says that to initiate a reversal you dial *170#, select Option 6 My Wallet, choose Option 8 Reversal, select the transaction you want to reverse and confirm your request[1]. Once you submit, the recipient receives a prompt asking them to approve the reversal; if they approve, the money is returned to your wallet automatically.
MTN Ghana published this self-initiated reversal guide in July 2025[1], so older guides that only tell you to call customer care and wait may be out of date.
MTN advises acting fast when a mistake happens. Whether the money comes back through the menu also depends on the recipient approving the request.
What are the exact MTN Ghana steps, in order?
- Dial *170# on the SIM that sent the money[1].
- Select Option 6 for My Wallet.
- Choose Option 8 for Reversal.
- Select the exact transaction you want to reverse from the list shown.
- Confirm your request.
Menu numbers can change. MTN Ghana’s airtime-reversal guide shows Option 8 opening a list of reversal types[2], so if you see a sub-menu, follow the on-screen prompts for the money transfer you want to reverse.
Take care at step four: check the receiving number and the amount on screen against your MoMo SMS before you confirm, so you reverse the right transaction.
Keep the original MoMo SMS open while you dial. It normally shows the transaction ID, the amount, the date and time, and the number that received the money, which is exactly the detail you will need if the request has to go to customer care.
Which MTN code belongs to which country?
MTN publishes different reversal codes in different countries. The Ghana and Cameroon paths below are not interchangeable.
| Market | Short code | Menu path | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN Ghana | *170# | Option 6 My Wallet, then Option 8 Reversal, then select the transaction | Confirm your request[1] |
| MTN Cameroon | *126# | Option 7 My account, then Option 5 Reverse Transaction, then select the transaction | Add an annulation message and confirm with your code[3] |
If you are in Ghana, ignore the Cameroon row; it only shows that menu numbers differ by market. MTN Ghana’s guide does not say which transaction types can be reversed through the menu[1], so if a payment is not in your reversal list, contact MTN customer care with the transaction details.
What happens after you confirm the reversal?
After you confirm, the recipient is asked to approve the reversal. MTN also names a fallback if they do not.
| What happens | What it means for you | Your next action |
|---|---|---|
| The recipient approves | The money is returned to your wallet automatically | Check your wallet balance and keep the SMS |
| The recipient does not approve | The request stalls at their end | Email customercare.gh@mtn.com with the transaction details, and MTN will hold the money in their wallet and begin the normal reversal process |
| No confirmation message arrives | You cannot tell whether the request registered | Contact MTN customer care on 100 or 0244300000[4,5] with the transaction details rather than dialling repeatedly |
| Wrong number on another network | MTN’s reversal guide does not say whether cross-network transfers can be reversed from the menu | If the transaction is not in your reversal list, report it to MTN customer care with the transaction details and contact the receiving network as well |
If the recipient refuses, use the email route: once you send the transaction details to customercare.gh@mtn.com, MTN says it will hold the money in the recipient’s wallet and begin the normal reversal process[1].
What if the wrong recipient already cashed out?
MTN Ghana’s reversal guide does not say what happens if the recipient has already withdrawn the money[1]. Its fallback is to hold the money in the recipient’s wallet, and it advises acting fast, so start the reversal as soon as you notice the mistake. If the money may already have been withdrawn, report it to MTN customer care straight away with the transaction details and ask them to confirm in writing what they can do.
What if MTN does not resolve it?
You can escalate to the Bank of Ghana. Its Consumer Recourse Mechanism Guidelines apply to e-money issuers and their agents: complain to the provider first and keep the complaint reference number it gives you. The provider should resolve the complaint within 20 working days, or up to 10 more if it notifies you of an extension, and you may appeal to the Bank of Ghana if you get no answer in that time or disagree with the outcome[6]. The Bank’s complaints page lists email complaints.office@bog.gov.gh, phone and WhatsApp 0593974486, and walk-in at the 4th Floor, Urban Block, Bank Square, Accra, or any regional office[7].
How do you avoid reversal scams?
MTN Ghana lists wrong transfers, a “new reversal process” and fake SMS among the MoMo fraud types you can report[8]. If someone calls or texts to say they sent you money by mistake, check your actual MoMo balance before doing anything. Never share your MoMo PIN, and do not engage with calls from unknown numbers about your wallet; MTN’s official customer service number is 0244300000[5]. Report suspected fraud through *170#, Option 6 My Wallet, then Report Fraud (listed as option 4 when MTN published the guide), or by email to mmfraudteam.GH@mtn.com[8].
What about the app, a merchant SIM, or Telecel?
- MyMTN and MoMo apps: MTN Ghana’s reversal guide describes only the USSD route, so start on *170#[1] and treat any app route as something to confirm with support.
- Payments to a merchant: MTN Ghana’s guide does not say whether merchant payments can be reversed from the menu. If the payment is not in your reversal list, send the transaction details to MTN customer care.
- Telecel Ghana or another network: MTN’s guide does not say whether a cross-network transfer can be reversed from the menu. If it is not in your reversal list, report it to MTN with the transaction details and contact the receiving network too.
MTN’s reversal guide does not state a fee, a deadline for starting a reversal, or how long the money takes to return[1]. Ask MTN customer care to confirm these for your transaction rather than relying on figures from social media.
Try this today
Do this once, while nothing is wrong, so you are not learning the menu in a panic.
- Dial *170#, open Option 6 My Wallet and look at Option 8 Reversal so you recognise the screens, then exit without selecting or confirming a transaction.
- Save customercare.gh@mtn.com in your contacts as your MoMo escalation address, and save MTN’s official customer service number, 0244300000.
- Write a reusable note on your phone with the fields to send: transaction ID, amount, date and time, your number, the wrong number.
- Turn on SMS backup or stop deleting MoMo messages, since the transaction details live there.
- Show family members or staff who send MoMo for you how to start a reversal on *170#.
Next step: for the wider picture on how wallets, banks and fees fit together, read our comparison of mobile banking versus mobile money in Ghana and the background piece on the mobile money revolution. For operator context on the company behind MoMo, see the MTN Ghana record in our Data House, and for an example of how service interruptions are reported, see our coverage of a day when MTN MoMo services were paused.
Frequently asked questions
What is the reverse code for MTN in Ghana?
Dial *170# on the SIM that sent the money, select Option 6 My Wallet, then Option 8 Reversal, pick the transaction and confirm your request[1]. Check the receiving number and amount against your MoMo SMS before confirming. The recipient then gets a prompt to approve the reversal. Keep the confirmation message afterwards in case you need to escalate the case.
How do I reverse money already sent to a wrong number?
Start on the USSD menu immediately. The reversal flow lets you select the transaction you want to reverse and confirm it from your own phone. MTN advises acting fast when a mistake happens. If the recipient does not approve, email the transaction details to customercare.gh@mtn.com[1].
What happens if the wrong recipient refuses the reversal?
MTN says that if the recipient does not approve the reversal you should email customercare.gh@mtn.com with the transaction details, and MTN will hold the money in their wallet and begin the normal reversal process[1]. Include the transaction ID, the amount, the date and time, your own number and the number that wrongly received the money.
Is the *126# code the same as the Ghana code?
No. MTN Cameroon’s MoMo Self-Reversal uses *126#, with Option 7 My account and then Option 5 Reverse Transaction, finishing with an annulation message and your code[3]. The Ghana path uses a different short code and different menu numbers. If a video shows a different code, it may be from another MTN market, so follow the Ghana steps only.
Is there a fee or time limit for a MoMo reversal?
MTN’s published reversal instructions set out the menu path and the escalation route by email[1], but they do not state a charge, a deadline for starting a reversal, or how long the refund takes to appear. Treat any figure you see on social media as unconfirmed and ask MTN customer care to confirm in writing for your specific transaction before you rely on it.
Can I reverse a payment made to a MoMo merchant SIM?
MTN Ghana’s reversal guide does not say whether payments to merchants can be reversed through the *170# menu[1]. If the payment is not in your reversal list, send the transaction details to MTN customer care, or call 100 or 0244300000, and ask what applies to your transaction[4,5].
How do I handle money sent to a Telecel number by mistake?
MTN Ghana’s reversal guide does not say whether a transfer to another network can be reversed from the menu[1]. Check your reversal list first; if the transaction is not there, report it to MTN customer care with the full transaction details, keep the SMS, and contact the receiving network as well. Act quickly.
What can I do if MTN does not resolve my complaint?
Complain to MTN first and keep the reference number. Under the Bank of Ghana’s Consumer Recourse Mechanism Guidelines, you may appeal to the Bank of Ghana if you get no answer within 20 working days (30 if MTN extends the period) or disagree with the outcome[6]. Use complaints.office@bog.gov.gh or call or WhatsApp 0593974486[7].
Sources
- MTN Ghana Help Center – Self-Initiated MoMo Reversal
- MTN Ghana Help Center – How do I reverse MoMo Airtime
- MTN Cameroon – MoMo Self-Reversal
- MTN Ghana Help Center – Where do I report complaint or make enquiries?
- MTN Ghana Help Center – How Can I Keep My MoMo Wallet Safe?
- Bank of Ghana – Consumer Recourse Mechanism Guidelines for Financial Service Providers (2017)
- Bank of Ghana – Complaints Procedures
- MTN Ghana Help Center – How do I report Mobile Money (MoMo) fraud?
