The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has called for stronger digital integration across Africa to achieve meaningful economic transformation. Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, an IFC official, emphasized this during the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra. Africa risks expanding digital access without truly transforming its economy, she warned.
Kouassi-Akon highlighted key challenges like fragmentation, affordability, and productivity gaps. She noted that many African digital systems remain disconnected, hindering business growth and cross-border trade. For example, payment platforms often do not work with each other, and data transfer is difficult.
This call comes as Ghana and the broader African continent continue to push for digital advancement. Mobile money usage has grown significantly, reflecting increased financial inclusion. Between 2014 and 2021, over 191 million more Africans used digital payments. However, significant gaps persist in actual digital usage; only about 22 percent of people use mobile internet despite wider network coverage. More than 60 percent live within broadband range but remain unconnected.
“Access has expanded, but without addressing fragmentation, affordability and productivity gaps, we risk digital access without economic transformation,” Kouassi-Akon stated. She outlined critical pillars for a robust digital economy. These include interoperable payment systems, digital identity systems, trusted data exchange frameworks, and strong connectivity infrastructure. These elements are essential for facilitating cross-border trade and regional value chains effectively.
The IFC official also stressed the importance of trust in digital systems. Citizens and investors will only adopt these platforms if they are supported by strong governance, cybersecurity measures, accountability, and data protection. Furthermore, digital public infrastructure requires substantial investment, which governments alone cannot sustain. The private sector must be engaged as a co-architect and co-investor.
IFC has actively supported digital infrastructure, investing more than GHS 124.7 billion ($9.6 billion) over the past ten years. This includes a GHS 1.3 billion ($100 million) financing package for Raxio Group, an African data center platform. This investment aims to expand facilities across several African countries. The broader goal is to attract private investment and support development objectives across the continent. This strategy focuses on crowding in private capability to deliver public value, rather than privatizing public goods.
Ghana’s role in digital innovation received praise from Kouassi-Akon, who cited the country’s progress in mobile money and its emerging technology ecosystem. The real transformation, she concluded, will occur when African digital systems connect seamlessly across borders. This will empower young entrepreneurs and small businesses to access credit, trade regionally, and create jobs locally. The question is not if Africa’s digital economy will grow, but who builds, owns, and benefits from it.