WAICTANET pushes for inclusive digital, financial access in Ghana and West Africa

At the second edition of the Ghana Digital and Financial Inclusion Roundtable, held at the Accra Digital Centre on November 8, Peterking Quaye, Executive Director of the West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANET), highlighted key insights on digital and financial inclusion challenges in Ghana and West Africa.

He emphasized that the platform brought together stakeholders from financial and digital sectors to discuss financial literacy and digital accessibility for all, including rural and underserved communities.

“Ghana is a beacon of digital transformation in Africa,” Quaye stated, “but as we advance, it’s vital that we don’t leave anyone behind. Even in rural areas, people should have access to the essential digital and financial services they need.”

The digital inclusion initiative led by WAICTANET spans multiple West African nations, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. The network advocates for policies addressing data protection and cybersecurity, issues that Quaye stressed are increasingly vital to protect rural and urban communities alike.

He pointed out that in Gambia and Sierra Leone, “we realised there were more issues of how to get more banking services that people can have their finances easily secured,” with concerns such as market women carrying large sums of cash now addressed through mobile money and other digital services.

Quaye noted the progress Ghana has made, especially with the recent launch of 5G, but was quick to add there’s still room to ensure that services extend beyond the main capitals like Accra and Kumasi.

“Rural inclusion in terms of financial literacy and digital access remains a priority,” he said.

Quaye further highlighted that cultural beliefs can sometimes impede digital literacy and financial inclusion, especially in Ghana, where longstanding attitudes toward financial practices can be slow to shift.

According to him, advocacy can help change financial literacy attitudes, adding that with more people understanding the right steps to protect themselves online, cultural barriers can eventually be overcome.

When asked about the role of government in addressing the challenges, Quaye stressed the need for policies that protect citizens online and encourage research-driven policymaking. He called for telecommunications companies to invest in events like the WAICTANET roundtable to gain feedback and improve the safety of their services.

As WAICTANET plans to expand its reach to Francophone countries by 2025, the Executive Director affirmed the organisation’s commitment to using empirical research to address digital and financial literacy challenges across West Africa.

He emphasised that the roundtable is intended to close digital and financial gaps, particularly in underserved regions, and to influence policy changes that make digital services more accessible to all citizens.