Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has declared that Africa is no longer a passive observer in the global financial revolution but is actively shaping the future of digital finance and financial innovation.

Delivering the closing keynote address at the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra on Friday, May 8, 2026, Dr Asiama said the continent is entering what he described as “the rebirth of Africa’s digital and financial ecosystem.”

“Two days ago, we opened these proceedings under a single, unifying proposition: that Africa is no longer observing the global financial revolution from the sidelines; we are, in fact, shaping it,” he stated.

The summit, held under the theme The Next Frontier: Shaping Africa’s Integrated Fintech Future, brought together regulators, policymakers, fintech founders, investors, development partners, and students from across the continent and beyond.

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According to the Governor, discussions throughout the three-day summit underscored the need for deliberate and coordinated action to transform dialogue into tangible outcomes that will accelerate innovation, deepen continental trade integration, and strengthen financial inclusion.

“The rich discussions that took place in the halls of this arena collectively point us toward what I describe as a rebirth of Africa’s digital and financial ecosystem,” he said.

Dr Asiama highlighted Ghana’s recent macroeconomic and regulatory achievements, noting that the Ghana cedi has remained stable and appreciated against major currencies, inflation dropped to 3.4 percent in April 2026, and GDP growth reached 6.0 percent in 2025.

He also cited major regulatory milestones, including amendments to the Bank of Ghana Act to enhance independence and accountability, the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), the issuance of directives for digital credit providers, and strengthened cybersecurity regulations.

“These have contributed to safeguarding the trust and confidence within the financial ecosystem,” he noted.

The Governor announced several new initiatives aimed at accelerating Ghana and Africa’s fintech development, including the establishment of an Innovation Hub to incubate emerging technologies, a dedicated legal framework for fintech regulation, the launch of a Continental FinTech Sandbox, and the operationalisation of the National FinTech Inclusion Programme.

“Today, we are announcing our commitment to setting up the Innovation Hub that will harness and incubate all innovations,” he said.

Dr Asiama also urged African regulators to continue advancing harmonisation of financial systems, licence passporting, and supervisory convergence to support seamless cross-border financial services.

“To our esteemed investor partners, the moment to engage the African opportunity is now. We seek capital that is patient, with partnerships that are enduring, to share our value,” he said.

He also encouraged founders and innovators to prioritise governance and consumer trust.

“Treat consumer trust as the strategic asset it truly is,” he advised.

The Governor concluded by calling on stakeholders to carry the summit’s outcomes from Accra into central banks, ministries, and boardrooms across the continent.

MA