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The short answer
PAPSS, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, says payments are processed within a maximum of 120 seconds, with each side paid in its own currency: cedis debited in Ghana, naira credited in Nigeria. That speed applies only when both banks are connected; PAPSS lists 17 Ghanaian banks and 11 Nigerian banks. If a payment takes longer, the delay is usually at one of the banks, so start with the sending bank's reference.
PAPSS was built so that African payments do not have to go through dollars and correspondent banks abroad. For a Nigerian in Ghana it means a cedi payment can reach a Nigerian account in naira without a SWIFT transfer. Here is what PAPSS itself says about speed, who takes part, and how to chase a payment that has not arrived. Figures are from PAPSS's send and receive page as at October 2026.
What PAPSS says about speed
PAPSS's page says payments are "processed within a maximum of 120 seconds". That is the time inside the PAPSS system. The full journey has three steps:
- Your Ghanaian bank accepts the instruction, runs its checks and sends it to PAPSS.
- PAPSS processes the payment and converts cedis to naira.
- The Nigerian bank credits the receiver's account.
Steps 1 and 3 depend on each bank. A bank may hold a payment for a compliance review, process PAPSS only during banking hours, or batch payments made through a branch. So 120 seconds is the best case inside PAPSS, not a promise from your bank. Ask your bank what its own cut-off and processing times are.
Which banks take part
You can use PAPSS only through a connected bank, by branch, app or online banking depending on the bank. PAPSS lists these participants:
| Ghana (17 banks) | Nigeria (11 banks) |
|---|---|
| Absa, Access, BOA, CAL, CBG, Ecobank, FBNBank, Fidelity, First Atlantic | Access, First Bank, Keystone, Lotus, Polaris, Providus |
| GCB, GTBank, OmniBSIC, Prudential, Stanbic, UBA, UMB, Zenith | Stanbic IBTC, Sterling, UBA, Union, Wema |
Both banks must be on the list. If your relative banks with a Nigerian bank that is not listed, a PAPSS payment may not be possible, and you would need another route. PAPSS also lists Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia and Guinea as live countries alongside Ghana and Nigeria. Lists change, so check PAPSS's page before you rely on it. For the full how-to, see using PAPSS to pay a Nigerian bank account from Ghana.
What it costs
PAPSS's page publishes no fees or limits; each bank sets its own. As one example, UBA Ghana's Tariff Guide 2026 lists PAPSS sending at 3% with a minimum of $5 and a maximum of $50. The exchange rate is a separate cost, so compare the naira amount the bank shows before you confirm.
Why PAPSS can be quicker than SWIFT
A SWIFT payment from Ghana to Nigeria usually travels through one or more correspondent banks, often in dollars, before it reaches the Nigerian bank. Each step can add a day and a deduction, and the payment can sit in a queue over a weekend. PAPSS connects African banks directly and settles in each country's own currency, so the cedi side and the naira side never need to pass through a third currency. That is the reason PAPSS can promise processing in two minutes where a SWIFT transfer is commonly described in working days.
The trade-off is reach. SWIFT can pay almost any Nigerian bank; PAPSS works only where both banks have joined. For a receiver whose bank is on the list, PAPSS is worth asking about first. For anyone else, compare a SWIFT transfer, a bank-group service such as Ecobank's Rapidtransfer or UBA's U-CONNECT, or a licensed money transfer operator.
Timing tips
- Send on a weekday morning, Ghana time, so both banks are open if anything needs checking.
- Avoid public holidays in either country for urgent payments such as hospital bills.
- Ask the receiver to confirm the credit on their bank app before you assume a problem.
If the payment is late
Work through these in order:
- Check the debit. Confirm the cedis have left your account and get the transaction reference from the app or branch.
- Confirm the details. A wrong account number or a name that does not match the Nigerian bank's records can cause a hold or a return. See why a Nigerian bank returns a transfer from Ghana.
- Ask the receiver to check with their bank, quoting the amount, date and that it came through PAPSS.
- Raise a complaint with your Ghanaian bank with the reference. The sending bank is the one that can trace the payment through PAPSS.
- Keep the reference until the money arrives or is refunded.
If the money returns, it comes back to your bank, which may convert it back to cedis at the rate of the day. Our guide to a delayed transfer from Ghana to Nigeria covers the wider steps for any route.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme's naira account details are Nigerian account details, so family and businesses in Nigeria can pay you, and you can send onward to Nigerian banks. Pryme accounts open from any country and hold NGN, USD, GBP and EUR; Pryme does not hold cedis or connect to PAPSS. See the multicurrency account.
Questions people ask
How fast is PAPSS from Ghana to Nigeria?
PAPSS says payments are processed within a maximum of 120 seconds once both banks are connected. Your bank's own checks and hours can add time.
Which Nigerian banks can receive PAPSS payments?
PAPSS lists Access, First Bank, Keystone, Lotus, Polaris, Providus, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling, UBA, Union and Wema, as at October 2026.
Does PAPSS pay in naira?
Yes. PAPSS settles in local currency at each end, so the Nigerian receiver gets naira.
Who do I call if a PAPSS payment is late?
Your sending bank in Ghana, with the transaction reference. The receiver can also ask their Nigerian bank to look for the credit.
Sources
- PAPSS: send and receive money · accessed Oct 2026
- UBA Ghana: Tariff Guide 2026 (PDF) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.