{"id":15900,"date":"2026-05-08T11:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T11:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/?p=15900"},"modified":"2026-05-08T11:53:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T11:53:13","slug":"bog-pushes-digital-finance-beyond-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/bog-pushes-digital-finance-beyond-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"BoG pushes digital finance beyond payments\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bank of Ghana is broadening its digital finance agenda beyond payments into areas such as digital credit, embedded finance and cross-border financial services, as African policymakers intensify efforts to build interoperable financial systems capable of supporting regional trade and economic integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama said the continent\u2019s digital finance ecosystem has moved beyond the initial phase of expanding access through mobile money and branchless banking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe next phase of digital finance will not be defined by payments alone,\u201d Asiama said. \u201cAcross our markets, the basic payment infrastructure is increasingly in place. The opportunity now lies in building the next layer of value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to him, that next phase will include digital credit, merchant payments, embedded finance, supply-chain finance and cross-border financial products targetted at small businesses, women, young people and the informal sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The policy shift comes as African regulators seek to address persistent fragmentation across payment systems, uneven regulatory frameworks and high transaction costs that continue to constrain intra-African trade despite rapid mobile money adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A recent World Bank report cited by Asiama estimates that about 49 percent of adults in sub-Saharan Africa now have access to digital financial accounts, reflecting significant gains in financial inclusion over the last decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the Governor argued that the challenge has evolved from expanding access to improving integration and scalability. \u201cThe issue is no longer access alone. It is fragmentation. It is cost. It is uneven regulatory alignment,\u201d he said. \u201cThe challenge is no longer building systems. It is connecting them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The central bank is advancing several regulatory initiatives to support the transition, including frameworks for virtual assets, digital credit, open banking and cross-border fintech operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Asiama said the Bank of Ghana\u2019s objective is to create a \u201cstructured, predictable\u201d regulatory environment that supports innovation while preserving financial stability and public trust. He also stressed the importance of stronger digital identity and Know-Your-Customer systems, warning that weak authentication frameworks increase fraud risks, weaken credit quality and undermine confidence in digital financial services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The broader regional push toward interoperability was reinforced by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, who announced that Ghana will collaborate with Rwanda, Zambia and other African countries to pilot a continental digital trade corridor. The initiative will focus on mobile money interoperability, digital identity for cross-border KYC, harmonised electronic invoicing and mutual recognition systems aimed at reducing friction in intra-African transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn many cases, intra-African transactions are still routed through financial systems outside the continent and denominated in third currencies,\u201d the Vice President said. According to her, this structure increases transaction costs and delays while weakening effectiveness of the African Continental Free Trade Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Ltd. (GhIPSS) also announced steps to strengthen payment infrastructure by migrating Ghana\u2019s national payment systems to the ISO 20022 global messaging standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chief Executive Clara Arthur said the migration will improve transaction data quality, accelerate settlement and support seamless cross-border integration with global financial markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GhIPSS is additionally seeking partnerships with regional and international card schemes while preparing to collaborate with virtual asset service providers following the passage of Ghana\u2019s Virtual Asset Service Providers Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thebftonline.com\/2026\/05\/07\/bog-pushes-digital-finance-beyond-payments\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/strong> for source.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bank of Ghana is broadening its digital finance agenda beyond payments into areas such as digital credit, embedded finance and cross-border financial services, as African policymakers intensify efforts to build interoperable financial systems capable of supporting regional trade and economic integration. Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":15901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"yes","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-articles"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15929,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/bog-to-launch-continental-fintech-sandbox-innovation-hub\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":0},"title":"BoG to launch continental fintech sandbox, innovation hub","author":"Michael Teye","date":"May 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Bank of Ghana plans to establish a continental fintech sandbox, launch a national innovation hub and introduce a separate legal framework for fintech regulation, as the central bank steps up efforts to position Ghana as a regional digital finance hub.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fintech-launch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fintech-launch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fintech-launch.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fintech-launch.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fintech-launch.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18817,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/bog-sec-seek-tighter-oversight-of-fast-growing-virtual-asset-market\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":1},"title":"BoG, SEC seek tighter oversight of fast-growing virtual asset market","author":"Paul N.","date":"August 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ghana strengthens regulatory oversight of its growing virtual asset market ahead of the full implementation of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act by 2027.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ESQ-Elsie-40.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ESQ-Elsie-40.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ESQ-Elsie-40.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ESQ-Elsie-40.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ESQ-Elsie-40.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14625,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/why-the-disinflation-story-is-only-an-opening-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":2},"title":"Why the disinflation story is only an opening act","author":"Michael Teye","date":"January 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Domestic inflation has fallen faster than many expected \u2013 easing to 5.4 percent in December 2025 from 23.8 percent a year earlier, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). This drop, the lowest since the Consumer Price Index (CPI) \u2013 the \u2018basket of goods and services\u2019 which measures inflation \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Disinflation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Disinflation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Disinflation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Disinflation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Disinflation.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14440,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/central-bank-signals-tougher-scrutiny-of-banks\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":3},"title":"Central bank signals tougher scrutiny of banks","author":"Michael Teye","date":"December 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The central bank has signalled a tougher supervisory stance on banks, saying it will introduce new stress tests, recovery-planning requirements and stricter enforcement to protect financial stability even as lenders return to profitability and capital strength improves.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banksa.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banksa.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banksa.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banksa.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banksa.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15987,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/bog-weighs-policy-realignment-as-inflation-risks-re-emerge\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":4},"title":"BoG weighs policy realignment as inflation risks re-emerge","author":"Grace Agorigo","date":"May 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Bank of Ghana has signalled that it may reassess the country\u2019s interest rate and monetary policy framework as renewed inflation risks from the prolonged Middle East conflict threaten to complicate Ghana\u2019s recent macroeconomic gains. Ghana Economic Reports Opening the 130th Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the governor of the central\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-10.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-10.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-10.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-10.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-10.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16103,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/economy-out-of-the-valley-not-yet-on-the-plateau\/","url_meta":{"origin":15900,"position":5},"title":"Economy out of the valley, not yet on the plateau","author":"Grace Agorigo","date":"June 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The domestic macroeconomic recovery is real and hard-won, but the task of converting stability into durable, broad-based growth is only beginning. That was the broad consensus at the opening session of The Money Summit 2026 (TMS 2026), where senior figures from across the financial sector argued that while Ghana has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ESQ-Elsie-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ESQ-Elsie-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ESQ-Elsie-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ESQ-Elsie-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ESQ-Elsie-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SNBN-4.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15900"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15902,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900\/revisions\/15902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}