Governor Asiama’s Remarks – 3i Africa Summit – Policy Forum Accra – Ghana (2025)
Source: bank_of_ghana
Date: 2025-05-14

3i AFRICA SUMMIT – POLICY FORUM ACCRA – GHANA (2025) THEME: ONE AFRICA, ONE MARKET: DRIVING INNOVATION, INVESTMENT, AND IMPACT FOR A CONNECTED FUTURE OPENING REMARKS BY DR. JOHNSON PANDIT ASIAMA GOVERNOR, BANK OF GHANA KEMPINSKI HOTEL, ACCRA, GHANA MAY Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Central Bank Governors and Representatives, Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Colleagues and Friends from across Africa and beyond, Good morning, and welcome to the 3i Africa Policy Forum here in Accra. It is a distinct honour to open today’s proceedings under the timely and compelling theme: “One Africa, One Market: Driving Innovation, Investment, and Impact for a Connected Future.” This theme speaks to more than just aspiration, it defines a strategic imperative. It calls us to envision Africa not as a patchwork of disconnected economies, but as a single, dynamic economic bloc powered by innovation, enabled by investment, and committ ed to inclusive and sustainable development. Realising this vision requires bold, coordinated action across public and private sectors, grounded in policy foresight and a willingness to embrace transformative technologies. Today’s Forum builds on the momentum generated at the 3i Africa Summit held here in May 2024. It convenes the very leaders in policy, regulation, finance, and technology who are shaping Africa’s digital transformation. Our purpose is not merely to reflect on that Summit’s outcomes, but to translate them into clear, executable strategies. The focus is implementation: scaling fintech, digital assets, and cross-border payment solutions to deepen financial inclusion and intra-African trade in alignment with the AfCFTA. Across the continent, the signs of progress are encouraging. Fintech is bridging access gaps, particularly for underserved and remote communities. Cross -border digital payments are gaining traction, promising to ease trade frictions and accelerate regional commerce. Regulatory sandboxes and innovation hubs are taking root, offering safe environments to test new technologies within the realities of our African contexts. These gains are being reinforced by modern regulatory approaches — pilot programs, innovation offices, and digital public infrastructure frameworks, all designed to promote inclusive finance, enhance SME participation, and unleash the creativity of Africa’s youth and entrepreneurs. But as promising as these national initiatives are, they are not enough. To fully realise the vision of One Africa, One Market , we must scale our efforts through continental coordination. This means harmonising regulatory frameworks, fostering interoperability across financial infrastructures, and building trust and transparency across jurisdictions. No single institution, no matter how well-resourced, can drive this transformation alone. This Forum represents a unique opportunity to build shared momentum. The sessions ahead will address key levers for driving Africa’s digital financial integration, including: • Attracting sustainable investment into fintech and digital finance; • Aligning regulatory approaches to unlock cross-border payments; • Empowering SMEs as drivers of regional trade and innovation; • Operationalising the Digital Trade Protocol to support regulatory convergence; • Ensuring responsible and secure adoption of stablecoins and digital assets; • And unlocking investor capital through strategic de-risking frameworks. The aim is not just dialogue but deliverables, actionable steps that move us from intention to execution. The Bank of Ghana remains firmly committed to this agenda. Our work with the Pan -African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and more recently our bilateral fintech passporting collaboration with the National Bank of Rwanda, reflects our conviction that regional integration is achievable through trust-based partnerships. We are also proud to announce our collaboration with the National Bank of Rwanda and the Global Financial Technology Network (Singapore) on the Next-Gen Digital Payment Infrastructure Project (DPI) . This initiative aims to modernise Africa’s cross -border payments ecosystem through a central bank-led, innovation-enabled approach, co-developed with fintechs and financial institutions. The project will support scalable pilots that can serve as templates across the continent, accelerating interoperability and unlocking the full potential of Africa’s digital economy. As we begin today’s dialogue, I urge us to be ambitious, pragmatic, and united in purpose. Let us focus not only on what is possible, but on what is essential and commit to building a connected African financial ecosystem by 2030. Let this Forum be a turning point where vision meets action, where policy enables innovation, and where Africa steps confidently into its role as a digital financial powerhouse. Thank you once again for joining us in Accra. I look forward to the rich discussions, impactful partnerships, and concrete outcomes that will emerge from our time together. Thank you.