Paystack Integration

Ardent SMS leverages Paystack to provide a seamless online payment experience for parents and schools in Ghana.

Overview

Supported payment channels in Ghana:

• Bank Card: Visa, Mastercard.
• Mobile Money: MTN MoMo, Vodafone Cash, AirtelTigo.
• USSD: Dial-to-pay options.
• Bank Transfer: Direct bank-to-bank settlement.

Setup Steps

1. Create Account: Register at paystack.com.
2. Verification: Complete business verification. Ghana-based schools must provide valid business registration or educational accreditation documents.
3. API Keys: Navigate to Settings → API Keys & Webhooks in your Paystack dashboard to obtain your Public Key and Secret Key.
4. Configuration: In the Ardent School Portal, go to Settings → Integrations → Paystack and enter your keys.
5. Subaccounts: Configure your subaccount code for automated fee splitting if applicable.
6. Testing: Use Test Mode to verify your integration before accepting real money.

Subaccount Configuration

For schools with complex settlement requirements (e.g., splitting fees between the school and a PTA fund), Ardent SMS supports Paystack Subaccounts. This allows for automated, rule-based distribution of funds at the point of payment.

Webhook Configuration

Webhooks are essential for real-time payment reconciliation. Ardent SMS automatically provides a unique webhook URL in your integration settings. Copy this URL and paste it into your Paystack Dashboard under the "Webhook URL" field. This ensures that as soon as a parent pays, their invoice is marked as PAID instantly.

Test Cards (Ghana)

Use these card details in Paystack's test mode to simulate various transaction outcomes.

Payment Flow

The diagram below illustrates the end-to-end journey of a fee payment through the platform.