The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama has reaffirmed the official commitment of the bank to supporting cross-border fintech expansion to deepen Africa’s financial markets and advance regional economic integration.
BoG argued that supporting international fintech penetration will amongst other things, help improve financial connectivity, reduce transaction costs, and expand access to services across African economies.
Dr. Asiama said this during remarks at the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra, which brought together policymakers, central bank governors, investors, and fintech innovators to discuss Africa’s digital finance agenda.
He said Ghana was positioning itself to facilitate seamless cross-border financial transactions, describing financial technology as a key driver of innovation, inclusion, and competitiveness.
“The next phase of digital finance must go beyond domestic gains and focus on enabling cross-border services that connect markets, support trade, and create value at scale,” he said.
Dr Asiama said the Bank of Ghana was implementing measures to promote innovation while maintaining financial stability and trust.
These include initiatives to support cross-border fintech activity, advance open banking, develop digital credit guidelines, and strengthen oversight of emerging technologies, including virtual assets.
Dr Asiama said cross-border fintech expansion could address structural constraints such as fragmented financial systems, high transaction costs, and limited access to financial services, while enhancing trade and improving access to capital for businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“Africa’s financial ecosystem must not only grow; it must mature. Firms with strong potential must have access to the partnerships, capital and infrastructure required to scale sustainably across borders,” he said.
The Governor called for closer collaboration among regulators, financial institutions, and technology firms to support coordinated cross-border integration.
He highlighted the need to improve data quality, strengthen digital identity systems, and reinforce Know-Your-Customer (KYC) frameworks to mitigate risks.
Weak authentication systems, he cautioned, could increase fraud risks, affect credit quality, and undermine confidence in digital finance platforms.
Dr Asiama also underscored the importance of clear regulatory processes, timely decision-making, and transparency to support fintech growth across jurisdictions.
In a statement made available to Business Hilights.ng by Ghana News Agency in Accra, the BoG Governor averred that although Africa had expanded financial access significantly through mobile money and branchless banking, the next phase should prioritise value creation and efficiency.
