Dr. Johnson Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has called for a decisive shift in Africa’s digital finance agenda. He urged stakeholders to move beyond offering basic financial access to delivering real economic value. Speaking at the 2026 3i Africa Summit in Accra on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Dr. Asiama stated the next phase of digital finance must focus on impact.
Ghana has made significant gains in expanding access to digital financial services. The next phase, however, must be driven by solutions like digital credit, embedded finance, and cross-border services. These advanced offerings will provide deeper economic integration and benefits. About 49% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa now have access to digital financial accounts. This figure comes from World Bank data cited by Dr. Asiama. He termed this progress strong but emphasized the need for it to translate into meaningful outcomes for businesses and households.
This strategic shift aligns with Ghana's broader economic narrative of fostering financial inclusion and leveraging technology for development. The country has prioritized digital payment infrastructure to modernize its economy. Past initiatives have focused on mobile money penetration and interoperability between platforms. These efforts aimed to broaden access for previously unbanked populations. The current focus on value generation marks an evolution in this strategy. It seeks to unlock higher economic potential from existing digital frameworks.
“We must move from access to value,” Dr. Asiama declared at the summit. He added that regulations must both protect the financial system and enable innovation. “Regulation and growth are not opposing forces. They must reinforce each other,” he explained. Clara B. Arthur, Chief Executive of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), supported this view. She underlined the importance of partnerships and infrastructure in Ghana’s digital finance success story. Ghana’s progress relies on strong collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, and fintech firms. This collaboration has led to seamless interoperability across payment platforms.
The implications of this shift are far-reaching. Financial markets and decision-makers will closely monitor the development of more sophisticated digital products. These products will target specific sectors like small businesses, young people, and the informal economy. The migration of Ghana’s payment systems to the ISO 20022 global messaging standard is also critical. GhIPSS announced this move to enhance efficiency and support cross-border transactions. This will position Ghana to collaborate with virtual asset service providers under emerging regulations. Deeper continental integration, connecting payment systems across borders, remains a key objective. This collaborative approach among regulators, industry players, and governments will shape Africa’s financial future.