The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has called for Africa’s digital economy to be built on the principles of inclusion, interoperability, and systems tailored to African realities.
Speaking during the final day of the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu delivered a strong policy-focused address that positioned infrastructure and accessibility at the center of Africa’s fintech future.
Under the theme “The Policy Maker’s Perspective: The Architecture of Inclusion – Building Africa’s Digital Future on Africa’s Terms,” she argued that innovation alone is not enough to drive sustainable growth.
“Innovation without infrastructure does not scale. Investment without systems does not reach people. And impact without inclusion does not last,” she stated.
Her remarks resonated strongly within ongoing conversations around African fintech, digital payments, and financial inclusion, particularly as African governments and regulators work toward deeper continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Using Ghana’s mobile money success story as an example, the Deputy Governor highlighted how simple technologies such as USSD services and agent banking networks have significantly expanded financial access across underserved communities.
“In Ghana today, a person can send money from a phone with no internet connection, no smartphone, and no data plan,” she said. “For millions of people, that model has done more for financial inclusion than many more sophisticated solutions.”
She emphasized that Africa’s digital future must be built around practical realities rather than imported assumptions, stressing that systems should be designed to function effectively within existing African infrastructure while remaining scalable across borders.
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu identified interoperability as one of the continent’s most critical digital infrastructure priorities, arguing that seamless movement of value across platforms is essential for economic growth and inclusion.
“When people can move value across systems easily, the market becomes more useful and more inclusive,” she noted.
Beyond infrastructure, the Deputy Governor addressed the role of policymakers in creating environments where innovation can thrive responsibly. She stressed that attracting investment into Africa’s digital economy depends heavily on strong regulatory systems, trusted payment rails, digital identity infrastructure, and consumer protection frameworks.
“Capital follows architecture,” she said, warning that weak systems could slow scale and discourage investment into the continent’s growing fintech sector.
Her address also carried a strong message of inclusion, particularly for underserved groups, small businesses, rural populations, and women-led enterprises operating within Africa’s informal economy.
“The true test is whether our systems work better for the market trader, the small business owner, the rural user, the woman-led enterprise,” she said. “If digital progress only serves those who are already visible and easy to serve, we have simply digitized advantage.”
Her comments come at a time when conversations around women in tech/fintech and inclusive digital finance continue to gain momentum across the continent.
