At the 2nd edition of the 3i Africa Policy Forum held in Accra, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Johnson Asiama, delivered a powerful message on the need for a harmonised and innovation-driven financial ecosystem across the African continent.
Speaking under the theme “One Africa, One Market: Driving Innovation, Investment and Impact for a Connected Future,” Dr. Asiama urged policymakers and stakeholders to move from fragmented efforts to coordinated action in transforming Africa into a digitally unified economic bloc.
Dr. Asiama stressed the importance of reimagining the African continent as a single, dynamic economic entity driven by innovation and inclusivity.
“The theme for the forum calls on policymakers to envision Africa not as a patchwork of disconnected economies, but as a single dynamic economic bloc powered by innovation, enabled by investment, and committed to inclusive and sustainable development.”
Dr. Johnson Asiama
He emphasised that achieving this vision will require bold collaborations between public and private sectors, underpinned by progressive policy frameworks and a commitment to adopting transformative technologies.
Fintech as a Driver of Inclusion and Trade
Highlighting the transformative role of financial technology (fintech), Dr. Asiama acknowledged its growing impact on financial inclusion and intra-African trade.
“Fintech is bridging access gaps, particularly for underserved and remote communities. Cross-border digital payments are gaining traction, promising to ease trade friction and accelerate regional commerce.”
Dr. Johnson Asiama
According to him, innovations such as digital assets and cross-border payment systems are not only reshaping the financial landscape but also expanding opportunities for small businesses and informal economies.
While many countries across Africa have launched promising initiatives such as regulatory sandboxes, innovation hubs, and digital public infrastructure frameworks, Dr. Asiama argued that these isolated national efforts are insufficient. He called for a shift towards continent-wide harmonisation of regulatory frameworks.
“To fully realise the vision of one Africa, one market, we must scale our efforts through continental coordination. This means harmonising regulatory frameworks, fostering interoperability across financial infrastructures, and building trust and transparency across jurisdictions.”
Dr. Johnson Asiama
Dr. Asiama laid out several priorities for the Forum’s agenda. These included attracting sustainable investment into digital finance, unlocking the potential of cross-border payments through regulatory alignment, empowering SMEs to participate in the digital economy, and operationalising digital trade protocols. He emphasised the need to translate dialogue into actionable strategies that can transform the continent’s digital economy by 2030.
Demonstrating Ghana’s commitment to regional integration, Dr. Asiama announced the country’s participation in the Next-Gen Digital Payment Infrastructure Project (DPI), a partnership involving the BoG, the National Bank of Rwanda, and Singapore’s Global Financial Technology Network. The initiative aims to modernise cross-border payments through a central bank-led approach, co-developed with fintechs and financial institutions.
“Our work with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), our fintech passporting arrangement with Rwanda’s central bank, and now the DPI initiative all reflect our conviction that regional integration is achievable through trust-based partnerships.”
Dr. Johnson Asiama
Dr. Asiama closed his remarks by calling on stakeholders to act with urgency and unity in building a connected African financial ecosystem. “This forum represents a unique opportunity to move from intention to execution. Let us focus not only on what is possible, but on what is essential,” he charged. His call to be “ambitious, pragmatic, and united” underlined the strategic importance of the 3i Africa Policy Forum in shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy.
