The governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, has called for a decisive shift from expanding access to delivering real impact as Africa advances its digital finance agenda.
Speaking at the 2026 edition of the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra, Dr. Asiama said the continent has made significant gains in financial inclusion, but must now focus on scaling value-driven services.
“Access has expanded, the task now is to make it count,” he stated.
According to him, digital finance is no longer peripheral but central to economic competitiveness, shaping how value is created, trust is built, and markets are connected.
Dr. Asiama noted that nearly half of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa now have access to digital financial accounts, describing the milestone as a foundation for the next phase of growth.
“Africa is not starting from zero. We are starting from momentum,” he emphasised.
He explained that the next phase of digital finance will extend beyond payments to include digital credit, embedded finance, supply chain financing, and cross-border services tailored to underserved groups such as women, MSMEs, and the informal sector.
However, he identified fragmentation, high costs, and uneven regulatory alignment as key constraints slowing progress across the continent.
“The challenge is no longer building systems, it is connecting them,” he said.
On regulation, the Governor stressed the need for a balanced approach that protects financial stability while enabling innovation.
“Regulation and growth are not opposing forces, they must reinforce each other,” he noted.
Dr. Asiama outlined measures being implemented by the central bank, including advancing frameworks for virtual assets, digital credit guidelines, open banking, and cross-border fintech operations.
He added that stronger digital identity systems and efficient regulatory processes will be critical to building trust and supporting scale.
The governor further urged African countries to deepen coordination and support the growth of indigenous fintech firms to strengthen the continent’s financial ecosystem.
“The value of this Summit will not be measured by the conversations we have, but by the outcomes we drive,” he said.
He challenged stakeholders to move beyond participation and take a leadership role in shaping the future of global finance.
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