Financial and technology experts on Wednesday urged African leaders to embrace bold governance, responsible innovation and deeper regional collaboration to position the continent as a major force in the evolving global digital finance landscape.
Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra, regulators, policymakers and industry leaders noted that digital finance had become a major driver of economic activity across the continent, with nearly 49 per cent of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa now owning digital financial accounts.
Despite the gains, speakers warned that Africa must intensify efforts to build stronger financial technology ecosystems through integrated cross-border systems capable of supporting large-scale growth and inclusion.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, identified fragmentation, high transaction costs and uneven regulatory frameworks as major barriers slowing the continent’s digital finance ambitions.
According to him, Africa must move beyond merely participating in global financial innovation and begin asserting leadership.
“Africa has reached a point where participation is no longer the ambition – leadership is,” Asiama said.
“The answer will depend on how deliberately we act, how effectively we coordinate, and how consistently we execute.”
He pointed to digital credit, embedded finance, merchant payments, supply chain finance and cross-border financial services as the next wave of opportunities for African economies, noting that the continent’s foundational payment infrastructure was steadily improving.
“Firms with strong potential must have access to the partnerships, capital and infrastructure required to scale sustainably,” he said, adding that transparency, discipline and competitiveness remained essential to building resilient financial systems.
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems, Mrs. Clara Arthur, said Africa’s digital finance momentum could only be sustained through stronger partnerships and innovation-led leadership.
She stressed that collaboration was critical to ensuring financial inclusion reached underserved populations across the continent.
“When leadership is collaborative and partnerships are intentional, digital finance moves beyond systems to deliver real impact. It ensures that for every Ghanaian – like the woman in Makola market – access to financial services is no longer a barrier, but a given,” Arthur said.
She further disclosed that Africa currently accounts for about 66 per cent of global mobile money transaction value and noted projections that artificial intelligence could create as many as 40 million jobs across the continent.
Arthur also reaffirmed GhIPSS’ commitment to cross-border interoperability, saying the institution was prepared to integrate with instant payment platforms across Africa to deepen regional financial connectivity.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Finance and Technology Network, Ms. Maha El Dimachki, said Africa had consistently demonstrated its ability to leapfrog traditional development pathways through innovative financial solutions with global relevance.
She outlined supportive regulation, investment in infrastructure and regulatory sandboxes, as well as skills development, as key priorities needed to accelerate responsible technological advancement across the continent.
El Dimachki also announced plans for the Fintech Futures Index, a benchmarking framework expected to help regulators evaluate their innovation ecosystems against global standards while identifying practical pathways for technology adoption.
She called for stronger partnerships among governments, private sector players and academic institutions to ensure discussions at the summit translated into measurable outcomes capable of transforming Africa’s digital economy.
