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Mr. Archie Hesse, the Chief Executive of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Ltd (GhIPSS), was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the digitalization of payments and financial inclusion at the Ghana Fintech Awards 2023 held over the weekend. The prestigious award, organised by the Ghana Fintech Association, aimed to recognize Mr. Hesse's pivotal role in modernizing payments in Ghana.

The Ghana Fintech Awards is an annual event dedicated to acknowledging the achievements of Financial Technology (FinTech) companies and banking institutions. It celebrates individuals and companies that have excelled in building competitive and sustainable ventures within the rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Mr. Hesse's journey with GhIPSS began 17 years ago when he joined as the General Manager overseeing Projects and Business Development. His leadership led to his subsequent promotion to the position of Chief Executive Officer upon the retirement of the first CEO.

Under Mr. Hesse's guidance, GhIPSS has spearheaded the introduction of numerous electronic payment products, many of which were pioneering initiatives in Africa. His groundbreaking contributions were therefore recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious ceremony.

Mr. Hesse and GhIPSS have received numerous accolades both domestically and internationally. His wealth of expertise and experience has positioned him as a sought-after figure across Africa and beyond. In recent years, he has been actively advising several governments on enhancing electronic payment systems in their respective countries.

Reflecting on the award, Mr. Hesse attributed the successes achieved to the hard work and dedication of the GhIPSS team, along with effective collaboration from stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of continued support from stakeholders to facilitate Ghana's complete transition to an electronic payment ecosystem, where digital payments become the norm.

The Ghana Fintech Awards also recognized various FinTechs, financial institutions, and individuals for their noteworthy contributions to the industry.

Financial institutions have been urged to boldly showcase ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time (NRT) services on their digital platforms to facilitate easy access for customers. Highlighting and appropriately labelling the NRT option, will raise awareness among customers about this payment service, encouraging its utilization.
Typically, banks list various digital channels on their internet and mobile banking platforms, attracting significant patronage due to their visibility to customers. GhIPSS officials suggest that incorporating the ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time into the roster of payment channels will boost its usage.

Ghana is distinguished for offering ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time, a payment channel that positions it ahead of many countries. This service enables businesses to credit beneficiaries' bank accounts within fifteen (15) minutes of initiating fund transfers, setting it apart from the Standard Direct Credit (24 hours) and Express Direct Credit (4 hours) options.

Mary Dei Sarpong, Head of Bulk Payments & Customer Support, emphasized in an interview that, NRT empowers organisations and individuals to execute bulk payments round the clock, with recipients receiving funds within fifteen(15) minutes—an efficiency that can benefit numerous institutions. Mrs. Dei Sarpong encouraged banks to actively promote the NRT and attract as many institutions as possible to utilize the service for quick bulk payments.

Ghana's payment landscape offers diverse options to cater to varying needs, including instant payment, near real time options, and slower alternatives like third-party cheques, which can take up to two days to clear. Mrs. Dei Sarpong stressed the importance for banks to make these payment channels visible on their platforms and devise innovative methods to educate the public about their availability. While GhIPSS does not directly offer these services to the public, it remains committed to raising awareness to assist individuals in selecting the most suitable payment option at any given time.

NRT provides a faster way of paying many people than any physical cash payment can ever achieve. The time to manoeuvre through traffic, the risk of carry large sums of money to pay different people, and the fights over payment reconciliation challenges, are completely taken away, with the use of NRT.

The service also comes in handy for businessmen and individuals who have to make urgent payment to suppliers while busy with other activities.