By Morris Ogbetey
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, has called for greater support for indigenous financial technology (fintech) firms to help expand digital financial inclusion across the continent.
He said firms with strong potential must have access to partnerships, capital, and infrastructure to scale sustainably.
Dr Asiama was speaking at the opening of the second edition of the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, which aims to move from country-specific progress to continental growth.
According to him, the Bank of Ghana has taken deliberate steps to create an enabling environment for the growth of fintech firms.
“At the Bank of Ghana, we have taken a deliberate approach. Our objective is clear: to build a regulatory and market environment that supports innovation while maintaining stability and trust. This is reflected in steps we have taken to strengthen the framework for digital finance, including advancing the regulatory regime for virtual assets, issuing guidelines for digital credit, progressing open banking, and supporting cross-border activity.
“These are not isolated initiatives. They are part of a coherent effort to ensure the financial system evolves in a structured, predictable way that can support innovation at scale. But the work ahead is not just about issuing laws or frameworks. It is about strengthening the service infrastructure around regulation, processes must be clear, submissions must be tracked, and decisions must be timely,” he said.
Dr Asiama noted that Ghana is at a stage where the gains made in digital finance must translate into expanded payment frontiers.
“What is equally clear is that we are now at a point where progress must translate into scale, and access must translate into value. The foundations of innovation, investment, and impact are in place, and our goal must be to ensure these pillars are not only articulated but effectively operationalised through strong partnerships and sustained investment,” he added.
Africa has made steady progress in expanding access to finance. A recent World Bank report indicates that 49% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa now have access to digital financial accounts.
Dr Asiama said the continent is not starting from zero but is making significant strides.
“This is progress, but it signals a transition. Access has expanded; now the task is to make it count. For long, progress was driven by mobile money and branchless banking, bringing services to underserved populations. It is now reinforced by broader technological developments, including digital credit, digital trade, and evolving MSME financing models,” he said.
Chief Executive of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), Mrs Clara B. Arthur, also stressed the need for deeper collaboration and innovation-driven leadership as the digital payments space evolves.
She said GhIPSS is taking steps to strengthen infrastructure and support the ecosystem, working closely with partners to advance Ghana’s cash-lite agenda.
“GhIPSS is migrating Ghana’s national payments infrastructure to the ISO 20022 global messaging standard. This migration is a strategic repositioning for the future. By adopting ISO 20022, Ghana’s payment systems will speak the same language as the world’s leading financial markets, enabling richer transaction data, faster settlement, and seamless cross-border integration.
“We are also strengthening our domestic card scheme through strategic international partnerships with regional and international card schemes,” she said.
The 3i Africa Summit comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to deepen digital financial inclusion, strengthen fintech regulation, and expand cross-border payments across the continent.
Discussions are expected to cover digital currencies, financial infrastructure, investment flows, and partnerships between regulators and private sector players.
Bank of Ghana officials say the conference will provide a platform for practical dialogue between policymakers, investors, and innovators to translate ideas into scalable solutions for African markets.
By hosting the 2026 edition, Ghana is reinforcing its role as a regional hub for fintech and financial policy dialogue in West Africa.
