From Infrastructure to Interoperability: GhIPSS Shapes Conversations on Africa’s Digital Financial Future at 3i Africa Summit 2026
A conversation with a trader at Makola Market helped frame the keynote address delivered by the Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Clara B. Arthur, at the 3i Africa Summit 2026. Asked how she preferred to receive payments, a market woman responded: “Mobile money.” It was a reminder that for many Africans today, seamless digital payments are no longer a luxury, but an expectation.
That expectation increasingly shaped conversations throughout the summit, where discussions focused on how Africa can build more connected, interoperable, and trusted financial systems capable of supporting economic growth and regional integration.
At the summit, GhIPSS participated in several high-level discussions on digital finance, interoperability, payment infrastructure, cross-border payments, and digital public infrastructure, reinforcing the role of shared infrastructure in enabling a more connected financial ecosystem across the continent. One of the key themes explored during the summit was the growing importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Africa’s development agenda. Discussions focused on how foundational systems such as digital identity, payment infrastructure, and data-sharing frameworks are supporting financial inclusion, innovation, and broader economic participation.
Speaking during the session on Digital Public Infrastructure: Building Africa’s Foundations in a Platform-Driven World, the Chief Operating Officer of GhIPSS, Juliet Ackah-Nyamike, emphasized the importance of scalable and interoperable systems that allow institutions and platforms to connect efficiently and securely. She noted that resilient infrastructure remains essential to supporting innovation and expanding digital financial services across the ecosystem.
The summit also explored the role of national payment switches in reducing fragmentation within Africa’s financial landscape. During the session on National Payment Switches: Enabling Interoperability at Scale, panelists examined how connected payment systems can improve efficiency, reduce transaction friction, and support seamless cross-border payments.
The session was moderated by the Chief Business Officer of GhIPSS, Akosua Blay, with the Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Clara B. Arthur, participating as a panelist. During the discussion, Clara Arthur underscored the importance of shared infrastructure in enabling secure, efficient, and scalable payment ecosystems across Africa, while highlighting interoperability as a critical requirement for financial inclusion and regional trade.
Contributions from other panelists, including Premier Ohwoi and Solomon Azoza, reinforced the importance of collaboration between payment switches, regulators, financial institutions, fintechs, and mobile money operators in driving regional interoperability. Discussions also highlighted the need for aligned standards, coordinated regulatory approaches, and stronger partnerships to support integrated payments across the continent.
Beyond infrastructure and interoperability, conversations at the summit also focused on liquidity and foreign exchange, two issues that continue to affect cross-border payments across Africa.
During the session on Liquidity and FX in Africa: The Backbone of Cross-Border Payments, the Chief Finance Officer of GhIPSS, Eunice Amewu Nyadu, moderated discussions on how liquidity constraints, settlement processes, and fragmented FX markets continue to impact the speed, affordability, and reliability of regional transactions.
Panelists discussed the need for stronger coordination between financial systems and markets to improve liquidity flows and reduce payment friction across borders. Discussions also emphasized that efficient cross-border payment systems require not only technology, but also trusted settlement frameworks, stronger institutional collaboration, and greater regulatory alignment.
The summit also explored the role of digital public infrastructure in strengthening trust and accountability in public service delivery. Moderating the session titled Guardians of Trust: How DPI Can Protect Citizens While Fighting Corruption, the Head of Brands and Communications at GhIPSS, Eunice Asantewaa Ankomah, examined how digital identity and interoperable payment systems are helping governments address longstanding challenges such as ghost names, duplicate records, payment delays, and leakages in public payment programmes.
The discussion explored how digital identity systems such as the Ghana Card, together with interoperable payment platforms like Ghana’s Instant Payment system, are improving verification, accountability, and transparency in the delivery of public services.
Beyond efficiency, the conversation also examined the responsibility that comes with digital public infrastructure at scale, particularly the need to protect citizens’ data, safeguard privacy, prevent misuse, and build systems that are secure, trusted, and difficult to manipulate.
One key takeaway from the discussion was that digital public infrastructure is not only about speed and convenience. When implemented effectively, it can strengthen trust, protect public resources, and improve confidence in public service delivery.
Across the various sessions, a consistent message emerged: interoperability is increasingly becoming central to Africa’s digital financial future.
GhIPSS’ participation across these conversations reinforced its role as an enabler of the infrastructure supporting a more connected, efficient, and integrated financial ecosystem for Ghana and the wider African continent.
