Community Development in action as Bekwai MP Ralph Poku-Adusei delivers

Nana Beeko
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Community Development in action as Bekwai MP Ralph Poku-Adusei delivers

Residents of several communities within the Bekwai Constituency have received a major development boost following the latest interventions by the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei, aimed at improving transportation, education, and local economic activities.

The latest support package benefited the communities of Kensere-Biribowomanmu-Pampaso, Amanhyia, and Sarfokrom, where ongoing development projects initiated by residents received both financial and material assistance to speed up completion.

The presentation of the support was led by the Bekwai Constituency New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Mr. Fred Nkansah, together with members of the constituency executives, on behalf of the Member of Parliament.

At Kensere-Biribowomanmu-Pampaso, community members had appealed for urgent assistance after a recently reshaped road became nearly unusable due to persistent heavy rains. The muddy and slippery condition of the road disrupted transportation, making it difficult for farmers and traders to move their produce to nearby markets.

In response, Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei donated several truckloads of gravel and provided an estimated GH₵15,000 to facilitate the compacting of the road surface.

The intervention is expected to restore safe access for motorists and pedestrians while improving economic activities within the area.

The MP also extended support to the community of Amanhyia, where work is nearing completion on a three-unit teachers’ quarters. Through Chairman Fred Nkansah, a cheque was presented to help complete the remaining works, including painting and final finishing before the facility is officially handed over.

The teachers’ accommodation project is expected to address the long-standing challenge of inadequate housing for educators, a situation that has contributed to teacher absenteeism and delays in reporting to school.

Education stakeholders believe the completion of the facility will create a better working environment for teachers while enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in the community.

Meanwhile, traders in Sarfokrom also received financial assistance to complete the construction of a modern market shed. The support was presented through the Assembly Member to help accelerate work on the project.

When completed, the market shed will provide traders with a secure and comfortable place to conduct business, improve trading conditions, and stimulate commercial activities within the community.

Addressing residents after the presentations, Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei reiterated that sustainable development is most effective when communities identify their own priorities and work together towards achieving them.

He noted that his responsibility as a Member of Parliament is to complement such initiatives by providing the necessary resources needed to transform community ideas into completed projects.

According to the MP, supporting locally driven development initiatives ensures that public resources directly address the most pressing needs of the people while strengthening community ownership of development projects.

Community leaders and beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei and the Bekwai Constituency NPP leadership, led by Chairman Fred Nkansah, for responding promptly to their requests and demonstrating commitment to improving living conditions across the constituency.

The latest interventions further reinforce the MP’s development agenda, which continues to prioritize practical solutions that improve livelihoods, strengthen education, and expand economic opportunities throughout the Bekwai Constituency.

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NYA Falls Short On Disability Inclusion Target

News Ghana
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NYA Falls Short On Disability Inclusion Target

The National Youth Authority reached just 1.5 percent of its own five percent target for disability inclusion in its apprenticeship programme last year, even as its chief executive urged young Ghanaians on Wednesday to become job creators rather than job seekers.

The gap matters because it sits directly against the inclusive language the same official used at the same event, raising the question of how far the agency’s rhetoric on reaching every young person matches its own results on the ground.

Osman Ayariga, chief executive of the National Youth Authority (NYA), addressed the World Youth Skills Day 2026 event organised by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training under the theme “Skills for a Shared Future,” held at the Accra City Hotel. He told participants that government cannot employ every young person and that entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development must now carry more of that weight.

“Government cannot employ every young person. We must empower young people to become job creators instead of only job seekers,” he said.

Ayariga pointed to the National Apprenticeship Programme, Youth Resource Centres and the Youth Industrial Parks Initiative as the Authority’s main tools for building practical skills, mentorship and access to equipment for young entrepreneurs. He said the Authority is working to reach young women, persons with disabilities, rural youth and other vulnerable groups, adding that development is only meaningful when opportunities reach everyone.

That inclusion goal has proven harder to meet than to state. Ayariga disclosed that the National Apprenticeship Programme set a target of allocating five percent of last year’s training slots to persons with disabilities, but only 1.5 percent of beneficiaries were people with disabilities, a shortfall he did not attribute to a specific cause.

He called on industry players to expand internships, apprenticeships and mentorship opportunities for young people, and urged parents to support technical and vocational career paths rather than steering children only toward traditional academic routes. He listed digital skills, artificial intelligence literacy, financial literacy, communication, teamwork and adaptability as the competencies young people need for the future economy.

Ayariga said the National Youth Authority would continue working with government, the private sector and development partners to expand opportunities for young Ghanaians, adding that investing in youth skills now secures the country’s prosperity later.

World Youth Skills Day is marked globally each July 15 under a UNESCO-led framework promoting vocational, digital and entrepreneurial skills among young people.

Obom Chief Alleges Torture By Kasoa Police

Kwabena Adu Koranteng
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Obom Chief Alleges Torture By Kasoa Police

The Asafoatse of Obom, Prince Nii Amartey, has accused Kasoa Divisional Police officers of torturing him for hours after arresting him over a 15 year old murder allegation he denies.

None of the specific claims in this account have been independently verified, and the Ghana Police Service has not issued a public response to them. The allegation lands, however, against a wider record of complaints about policing conduct in Kasoa that predates this case, which is why rights advocates say it deserves an independent look rather than an internal review alone.

According to Prince Nii Amartey, the ordeal began on Wednesday, July 1, when workers at his block factory told him prospective buyers wanted to purchase about 3,000 building blocks. He said the supposed buyers turned out to be plain clothed police officers who told him only that he would learn the reason for his arrest once they reached the station. At the Kasoa Divisional Police Headquarters, he said, investigators accused him of murdering a man 15 years earlier over a land sale at Adeiso, an allegation he says he challenged repeatedly and that officers never supported with evidence.

Prince Nii Amartey alleges that his denials led a Crime Officer to order subordinates to assault him, first behind the station, where he says he was handcuffed and suspended from a tree for about 30 minutes, and later in a locked room. He said he was moved that night to an isolated bush area, where he received a phone call telling him to say his last prayers.

“I honestly believed I would never return home alive,” he said.

He also alleges that GH₵7,000 in cash and his mobile phones were seized during his arrest and have not been returned. He says he collapsed in custody, was treated first at a Kasoa clinic and later at Ridge Hospital in Accra and the Obom Polyclinic, and was eventually granted police enquiry bail.

His family says lawyers who went to the station asked police to produce the complainant and relatives of the alleged murder victim and that neither appeared, a gap they say deepened their doubts about the case.

Kasoa has drawn complaints of police misconduct before. A US State Department human rights report on Ghana previously documented a case in the town in which officers allegedly demanded payment from a crime victim before pursuing prosecution, part of a broader pattern the report said made Ghanaians reluctant to file formal complaints against police over fears the force used would be dismissed as justified.

Prince Nii Amartey is calling on President John Dramani Mahama, the Inspector General of Police and the Interior Minister to order an independent investigation. He says he believes the case may be connected to his resistance to an alleged land grabbing scheme in the Obom area, a link that has not been established. He says he is seeking accountability rather than revenge.

The Ghana Police Service has not commented publicly on the allegations, and no charges or internal findings have been announced.

Vietnam, AfCFTA Secretariat Explore Stronger Trade Partnership

Prosper Kay
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Vietnam, AfCFTA Secretariat Explore Stronger Trade Partnership

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening economic cooperation with global partners following high-level discussions with a delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam aimed at expanding trade and investment ties between Africa and Southeast Asia.

On behalf of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Rui Livramento, welcomed a high-level Vietnamese delegation led by the country’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nguyen Minh Hang, at the AfCFTA Secretariat headquarters in Accra on 2 July 2026.

The meeting underscored the growing importance of strategic partnerships in supporting Africa’s continental integration agenda and unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, industrialization and sustainable economic development.

Discussions focused on exploring practical areas of cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the AfCFTA Secretariat, with particular emphasis on enhancing trade relations, promoting investment, strengthening private sector collaboration, and facilitating knowledge exchange in areas that can accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA.

The engagement comes at a time when the AfCFTA has transitioned from negotiations to full-scale implementation, with increasing emphasis on building partnerships that enhance Africa’s productive capacity, improve market access and integrate African businesses into regional and global value chains.

Vietnam, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies and an emerging manufacturing and export powerhouse, has developed extensive expertise in industrial development, export promotion, digital transformation and SME competitiveness. These experiences present valuable opportunities for collaboration with African countries seeking to leverage the AfCFTA to drive industrialization and expand intra-African trade.

The meeting also reflected the AfCFTA Secretariat’s broader strategy of engaging international partners that can contribute technical expertise, investment and innovation to support the realization of a single African market of more than 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP exceeding US$3.4 trillion.

As implementation of the Agreement gathers momentum across the continent, the AfCFTA Secretariat continues to strengthen diplomatic and economic partnerships with countries and institutions around the world that share Africa’s vision of creating a more integrated, competitive and prosperous continental economy.

The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to deepen engagement and explore mutually beneficial initiatives that will strengthen economic cooperation between Vietnam and Africa under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

 

Women Must Be At The Centre Of Africa’s Trade Transformation – AfCFTA Secretary-General

Prosper Kay
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Women Must Be At The Centre Of Africa’s Trade Transformation – AfCFTA Secretary-General

The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, has asserted that Africa’s economic transformation will depend significantly on the ability of women entrepreneurs to participate fully in continental trade,

Speaking at the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, H.E. Mene emphasized that women are already among the most active drivers of trade across Africa and must therefore be placed at the centre of the continent’s economic integration agenda.

He noted that unlocking the full potential of women-owned and women-led enterprises is not only a matter of inclusion, but also a strategic requirement for Africa’s long-term growth, industrialization and prosperity.

According to the Secretary-General, the AfCFTA provides a historic opportunity to address the long-standing barriers that have prevented many women from expanding their businesses beyond national borders. These barriers include limited access to finance, inadequate trade information, high transportation and logistics costs, complex customs procedures, weak business networks and restricted access to formal markets.

H.E. Mene described the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade as the first legally binding instrument of its kind in the world which is a major instrument designed to respond to women and youth-led businesses.

The Protocol is intended to create a more inclusive continental trading system by removing obstacles that disproportionately affect women and young entrepreneurs. It also seeks to expand access to finance, improve market opportunities and strengthen the participation of women in higher-value sectors of the African economy.

These sectors include manufacturing, logistics, digital technology, mining, agriculture, professional services and regional value chains. Increased participation in such sectors would enable women to move beyond small-scale and informal trade into more productive, competitive and export-oriented businesses.

H.E. Mene stressed, however, that the adoption of the Protocol alone would not be sufficient. Its impact will ultimately depend on how effectively governments and other stakeholders translate its provisions into practical support for women entrepreneurs.

This will require coordinated action by African governments, the private sector, development partners, banks and other financial institutions. National institutions will also need to align their trade, industrial, financial and entrepreneurship policies with the objectives of the Protocol.

Priority interventions should include affordable financing, targeted training, improved digital and physical infrastructure, simplified trade procedures and stronger cross-border business networks. Women entrepreneurs must also be provided with timely information on market opportunities, rules of origin, customs requirements and available trade-support services.

Financial institutions have an especially important role to play by designing products that reflect the realities of women-owned businesses, many of which struggle to meet conventional collateral requirements despite operating viable enterprises.

The private sector can also support implementation through supplier development programmes, mentorship, technology transfer and the inclusion of women-owned enterprises in regional supply and value chains.

The Secretary-General’s remarks reinforced the broader vision of the AfCFTA as an instrument for inclusive economic transformation. As implementation gathers momentum across the continent, the Agreement is expected to create new opportunities for enterprises to access larger markets, attract investment and expand production.

For these benefits to be widely shared, however, women must not remain on the margins of Africa’s trading system. They must be supported as producers, manufacturers, exporters, service providers and investors.

The HerAfCFTA Regional Conference therefore served as an important platform for strengthening collaboration and renewing commitment to turning the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade into tangible opportunities.

Africa’s economic future, H.E. Mene concluded, will be stronger when women are equipped with the finance, skills, infrastructure and networks required to grow their businesses and trade confidently across the continent.

Finding My Place at UBA: A Creative’s GMAP Journey

Prosper Kay
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Finding My Place at UBA: A Creative’s GMAP Journey

When Adelaide Phoebi Nettey graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), she never imagined her passion for design would lead her to banking.

Today, she is a Graphic Artist at UBA Ghana, having joined through the Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP).

For many graduates, landing a meaningful first job is a challenge.

Through GMAP, UBA is creating opportunities for young professionals from diverse backgrounds to learn, grow, and thrive.

“My GMAP Journey at UBA Ghana” is a series featuring participants as they share their experiences and the lessons shaping their careers.

This week, Adelaide shares how GMAP helped her find her place at UBA Ghana.

1. Before joining GMAP, what did you think working in a bank would be like and what’s been the biggest surprise?

To be honest, I thought banking was mainly about the people you see in the banking hall. I had no idea how much work happens behind the scenes. The biggest surprise has been seeing how many different departments, teams and processes work together to keep everything running smoothly.

2. Who were you before GMAP, and how has the program changed you so far? What part of yourself have you discovered most?

Before GMAP, I was an outsourced staff. The program taught me to embrace opportunities when they come and showed me that I am capable of growing beyond my comfort zone.

3. What has been your toughest moment in the program, and how did you get through it?

One of the toughest parts was learning alongside colleagues from different African countries.

Communication wasn’t always easy because many discussions required translation, but there wasn’t always enough time for that. We also faced challenges with the exam browser. Honestly, I got through it with the support of my Ghanaian teammates. We prepared together, encouraged one another, and kept reminding ourselves why we started.

4. What’s something about working in a bank that people completely misunderstand?

Personally, I think a lot of people assume that if you work in the back office, your job isn’t very busy or demanding because you’re not dealing directly with customers. That’s far from the truth. There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes, and it requires you to multitask, collaborate with others, solve problems quickly, and deliver quality work within tight deadlines.

5. What skill has mattered most in your role that you didn’t learn in school? How did you learn it on the job?

The most important skill I’ve gained is adaptability. I’ve also learned how valuable it is to understand different parts of the team’s work so I can step in and help when needed. I developed these skills by being willing to learn, observing my colleagues, asking questions, and taking on new responsibilities whenever the opportunity came.

6. How has this experience changed your career goals?

This experience has shown me that I can achieve more than I ever thought was possible. It has taught me that with dedication, hard work, and a willingness to learn, I can succeed in banking or any career path I choose to pursue. It has given me the confidence to embrace new opportunities and keep challenging myself to grow.

7. What honest advice would you give to someone applying for GMAP today? And what advice would you give to young people exploring their work options?

Come with an open mind and be ready to learn. The program is challenging, but every experience helps you grow. Also, don’t let your academic background limit you. Be willing to learn, adapt, and take on new opportunities.

8. How did you react to your first salary, and what did you buy for yourself?

Receiving my first salary felt unreal because… I mean wow. It reminded me of the fact that hard work pays off and that motivated me to keep giving my best. I honestly can’t remember the first thing I bought for myself, but I clearly remember setting aside my tithe as a way of thanking God for bringing me this far.

9. Beyond the title or pay, what has this experience meant to you personally?

This experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally. It has built my confidence, expanded my knowledge, and shown me the value of embracing new challenges.

10. Would you recommend UBA as an employer of choice and why? what about the culture, people, or opportunities makes it stand out for you?

Absolutely. I would recommend UBA any day because it provides great opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge yourself. The work environment is supportive, the people are always willing to help, and you’re encouraged to think on your feet and develop new skills. It’s a place where you can grow both personally and professionally.

Beyond developing future leaders, the UBA GMAP continues to show that talent comes in many forms. By investing in young professionals from diverse backgrounds, the programme provides a platform for individuals like Adelaide to bring their unique skills, embrace new opportunities, and grow within the banking industry.

Morocco Commits 400 Troops To Gaza Force

News Ghana
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Morocco Commits 400 Troops To Gaza Force

Morocco signed an agreement in Rabat on Wednesday committing 400 troops to the international force tasked with stabilizing Gaza during its postwar transition.

The commitment puts a concrete number on what has so far been described only in general terms, and it lands awkwardly at home. Morocco normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, and that normalization has drawn repeated street protests in Rabat since the Gaza war began, which makes this deployment a domestic balancing act as much as a foreign policy statement.

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Defence Minister Delegate Abdeltif Loudyi signed the agreement on behalf of Morocco, receiving Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of the Gaza Peace Council, and the commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). Officials said Morocco is the first country to formalize an agreement of this kind with the Peace Council, building on commitments it made at the council’s founding meeting in Washington in February.

Under the deal, Morocco will send senior Royal Armed Forces officers into the ISF joint command, where they are expected to help monitor the ceasefire, secure aid corridors and support border security. Personnel from the Royal Gendarmerie and the General Directorate of National Security will help train a new Palestinian police force meant to gradually take over public order duties. Morocco also plans to build a military field hospital to serve both the international force and the Gazan population, and to fund programmes aimed at countering extremism and building tolerance.

Bourita described the agreement as consistent with Morocco’s long standing position on the conflict. “The Royal Vision has always been consistent,” he said, reaffirming Morocco’s support for a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel.

The ISF operates under a mandate set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted in November after months of negotiation over whether the force would need a UN mandate at all. Officials describe its role as protecting civilians, enabling the return of displaced residents and creating conditions for reconstruction, not acting as an occupying force or taking sides.

Morocco has backed its position with aid as well as diplomacy. The kingdom says it has delivered close to 280 tonnes of humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza since the war began, including a shipment moved by an overland route negotiated with the parties involved, and its Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency has channeled more than 2.2 million dollars toward social, health and heritage projects benefiting Palestinians, particularly in East Jerusalem. Officials say Morocco was also the first country to pay into the Peace Council’s budget.

Reconstruction needs in Gaza remain enormous, with hospitals, schools, water networks and housing severely damaged and rebuilding costs estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. Moroccan officials say the ISF role is meant to support that recovery rather than substitute for a broader political settlement, which they maintain still depends on an eventual two state solution.

Bayport Profit Triples On Deposit Shift

Roger A. Agana
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Bayport Profit Triples On Deposit Shift

Bayport Savings and Loans more than tripled its profit in the first half of 2026, as a shift toward customer deposits reshaped how the lender funds itself.

Unaudited results for the six months ended June 30 showed profit after tax rising to GH¢82.52 million from GH¢26.47 million a year earlier, a 211.8 percent increase, while profit before tax nearly tripled to GH¢118.26 million from GH¢38.55 million. Net interest income doubled to GH¢220.22 million.

The improvement tracked a continued shift in Bayport’s funding mix. Customer deposits jumped to GH¢1.55 billion from GH¢471.59 million, more than tripling, while borrowings fell to GH¢386.83 million from GH¢481.04 million and loans from shareholders dropped to GH¢30.96 million from GH¢106.55 million, continuing a move away from costlier wholesale funding that the company has pursued since 2025.

Total assets grew 77.1 percent to GH¢2.44 billion, driven by a 68 percent rise in loans and advances to customers, to GH¢1.87 billion, and cash and cash equivalents that more than quadrupled to GH¢325.09 million.

Asset quality improved alongside the growth. The non performing loan ratio fell to 8.1 percent from 12.6 percent a year earlier, continuing a decline that saw the company’s full year 2025 ratio already meet the Bank of Ghana’s maximum NPL threshold set for the end of 2026, a year ahead of schedule. The capital adequacy ratio edged up to 12.2 percent from 11.9 percent, above the regulatory minimum, and the company reported no defaults on statutory liquidity requirements.

Earnings per share rose to 0.7033 pesewas from 0.2256 pesewas. The results extend a run of stronger performance for the payroll lender, which posted profit before tax above GH¢100 million for the first time in full year 2025 after years of relying heavily on borrowings and shareholder funding.

Bayport, a subsidiary of Mauritius based Bayport Management Ltd, is licensed by the Bank of Ghana to provide micro credit and other financial services and operates from 44 locations nationwide, including 10 service centres and 33 agency offices. The results were signed by directors Akwasi Aboagye and Pearl Esua-Mensah.

KOSPI Swings Test Asia’s Markets, China Watches

Roger A. Agana
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KOSPI Swings Test Asia’s Markets, China Watches

Wild swings in South Korea’s KOSPI, which briefly fell into a bear market before rebounding, are prompting investors to reassess risk across Asia, including in China.

The index hit an intraday record of 9,385.59 points on June 19 before tumbling more than 20 percent to enter a technical bear market on July 8, when it closed at 7,246.79. It has since clawed back some of those losses and remains up around 76 percent for the year, still the best performing major equity market globally despite the turmoil.

Much of the volatility has centered on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which together now account for roughly half of the KOSPI’s total weight, up from about a quarter at the end of last year, and drove close to 70 percent of the index’s gains before the sell off. Single stock leveraged exchange traded funds tied to the two chipmakers, popular with South Korea’s retail investors known as the Ants, have amplified the swings, triggering repeated trading halts on the Korea Exchange, including its 37th such pause of the year this week.

The turbulence stems largely from a reassessment of artificial intelligence spending, after doubts emerged on Wall Street over whether heavy AI infrastructure investment by companies such as Microsoft and Meta will generate matching returns, triggering a broader pullback in chip stocks that spread from the United States to Asia. Analysts have also pointed to South Korea’s central bank, which raised its benchmark rate a quarter point to 2.75 percent this week in a new tightening cycle aimed at curbing inflation.

Because South Korea and China compete for many of the same international investment flows, analysts said a prolonged correction in Seoul could push some investors toward Chinese equities if valuations there look more attractive, while renewed confidence in Korean stocks could keep drawing capital away from China. The effect on Chinese markets is expected to depend on what is driving the swings: if it reflects profit taking after a strong rally, the spillover should stay limited, but broader doubts about Asian growth or earnings could pressure Chinese stocks too.

China’s equity market has struggled to sustain momentum despite a series of government support measures, weighed down by soft domestic demand, a prolonged property downturn and slower growth, even as authorities have tried to encourage longer term investment.

Technology stocks are likely to remain the main channel for any spillover, since Chinese markets are increasingly driven by technology and AI related companies just as South Korea’s benchmark is dominated by semiconductor firms. A shift in sentiment toward the sector could ripple across both markets.

While there is no sign of immediate contagion, investors are watching earnings, monetary policy and geopolitical developments for signs of where capital flows across Asia head next, with South Korea’s post correction direction seen as an early signal for confidence in the region’s equities more broadly.

Sam George: Regulation Must Match Pace Of Trust

News Ghana
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Sam George: Regulation Must Match Pace Of Trust

Ghana must move faster on digital infrastructure and cybersecurity to keep public trust in digital finance, Communications Minister Sam George said, days after regulators revoked Zeepay’s licence.

Speaking at the Financial Architecture Summit in Accra, held under the theme “Innovation for Stability: Central Banking, Digital Finance and the New Architecture of Ghana’s Financial Future,” George said public confidence, not technology alone, would determine whether the country’s expanding digital payments sector succeeds. “Innovation must move at the speed of opportunity, but regulation must move at the speed of trust,” he said.

He identified interoperability, inclusive by design digital systems and cyber resilience as the three pillars he said should underpin the next phase of Ghana’s digital and financial transformation, alongside reliable digital infrastructure and trusted digital identity systems.

George said the ministry measures digital transformation by whether it changes an ordinary life for the better, and called on financial institutions, fintech firms and technology providers to build secure, transparent and accessible digital solutions that widen financial inclusion while protecting consumers.

Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama, who also addressed the summit, announced that the central bank had completed a new Digital Banking Framework and accompanying draft guidelines, now ready for stakeholder consultation ahead of implementation. He said the framework reflects a financial system no longer defined only by banks and banking halls but increasingly by digital platforms and payment networks.

Asiama also updated progress on regulating virtual assets following last year’s passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, saying the central bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission are developing licensing requirements and implementation guidelines. He pointed to a new directive requiring financial institutions to strengthen board level expertise in cyber risk management, alongside what he described as Ghana’s first comprehensive framework governing the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as fraud detection, credit scoring and customer service, plus new rules on the adoption of cloud technology.

The summit’s emphasis on trust and oversight comes days after the Bank of Ghana revoked the electronic money licence of Zeepay, one of the country’s best known fintech firms, over cash backing shortfalls and unresolved governance concerns, a case officials say underscores why closer coordination between regulators, banks and technology firms is needed as Ghana expands its digital financial infrastructure.

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