The 3i Africa Policy Forum opened in Accra yesterday, May 14, with a rallying call for coordinated continental action to transform Africa into a unified digital economic bloc.
Delivering the opening remarks at the Kempinski Hotel, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, challenged stakeholders across the continent to move beyond aspiration and commit to “bold, coordinated action” that leverages innovation and investment for inclusive growth.
Held under the theme “One Africa, One Market: Driving Innovation, Investment, and Impact for a Connected Future,” the forum brings together central bank governors, ministers, regulators, and technology leaders to strategise on Africa’s digital transformation.
Dr. Asiama emphasised that the Forum is not just a platform for dialogue but a space to define concrete steps towards deeper financial inclusion and intra-African trade, aligned with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The focus is implementation. Scaling fintech, digital assets, and cross-border payment solutions must now take precedence if we are to deepen financial inclusion and trade across ours,” the Governor declared.
Building on momentum from the 3i Africa Summit held in Accra last year, this year’s Policy Forum is highlighting tangible progress across the continent. Fintech is increasingly addressing access gaps, cross-border digital payments are easing trade frictions, and regulatory sandboxes are allowing innovators to test solutions in local contexts.
Yet Dr. Asiama warned that fragmented national efforts are insufficient to realise the full promise of an integrated African market.
“To fully realise the vision of One Africa, One Market, we must scale our efforts through continental coordination,” he said, calling for harmonised regulations, interoperable systems, and mutual trust across jurisdictions.
As part of Ghana’s commitment to this vision, the Bank of Ghana announced a new trilateral partnership with the National Bank of Rwanda and the Global Financial Technology Network in Singapore.
The collaboration, dubbed the Next-Gen Digital Payment Infrastructure Project, aims to overhaul Africa’s cross-border payments ecosystem through central bank-led, fintech-enabled innovation.
According to Dr. Asiama, the initiative will support scalable pilots designed to serve as continental templates, accelerating progress towards a connected digital economy.
Sessions at the Forum are set to address investment in fintech, regulatory convergence, SME empowerment, digital trade protocols, and the responsible use of stablecoins and digital assets.
Organisers hope to turn these conversations into actionable strategies that will position Africa as a digital financial powerhouse by 2030.
