Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications Announces Exit of CEO Ken Ashigbey

Kenneth Ashigbey

Source: GraphicOnline

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Digital Chamber of Ghana (DCG) have officially announced the departure of Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey as Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber. His tenure came to an end on May 31, 2025, after nearly eight years of dedicated service.

In a joint press release, both Chambers acknowledged Dr. Ashigbey’s instrumental role in advancing the telecom and digital sectors in Ghana and expressed deep appreciation for his leadership and commitment.

“As he steps into his next chapter, the two Chambers wish Dr. Ashigbey continued success and fulfillment. We want to reassure you that we remain steadfast in our commitment to building on the strong foundation he has laid—strengthening advocacy, deepening stakeholder collaboration, and pushing for innovations that grow the industries and lift Ghanaians across all sectors.”

Dr. Ashigbey, a trained engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), previously served as Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Ltd. before joining the Chamber in 2017. Beyond telecom advocacy, he is also known for his media work and currently serves as co-chairperson of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, an initiative aimed at combating illegal mining in Ghana.

Credit: GraphicOnline

Africa’s Cross-Border Payments Projected to Reach $1 Trillion by 2035

AI

Africa’s cross-border payments market is projected to grow from $329 billion to $1 trillion by 2035, according to a new report by venture capital firm Oui Capital. The growth—driven by increased digital adoption, mobile money use, and intra-African trade—is fueled by a 12% compound annual growth rate.

Despite this momentum, the report flags major inefficiencies such as legacy payment infrastructure, double currency conversions, and fragmented regulations, which result in high remittance costs averaging 7–8%, the highest globally.

Mobile money now plays a critical role, accounting for 30% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s remittance flows. In 2022, the continent handled 66% of global mobile money transaction value, reflecting a major shift from informal to formal financial channels.

Oui Capital identifies over $10 billion in opportunities tied to infrastructure upgrades, including interoperable APIs, decentralised FX liquidity, and regional systems like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). PAPSS is helping reduce dependency on USD/EUR clearing, which adds about $5 billion annually to transaction costs.

Cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins are also gaining traction, lowering remittance fees by up to 60% in well-regulated markets. Meanwhile, fintech APIs have pushed fees down to 1.5–3%.

However, limited regulatory readiness remains a barrier—only 55% of African countries support full electronic KYC, constraining the scalability of fintech innovations.

The report urges founders to look beyond simple transfers by integrating services like lending and insurance, concluding, “Africa’s payments race is now a scale game. Those that solve for liquidity, compliance, and cost will define the continent’s digital trade backbone over the next decade.”

Source: Extensia.tech

Safaricom Commits $500M to Build AI Infrastructure in East Africa

Safaricom

Safaricom has announced a $500 million investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across East Africa over the next three years. The telco aims to accelerate the region’s digital transformation by enabling advanced digital services and driving innovation in key sectors.

Speaking at the Connected Africa Summit in Diani, Kenya, Cynthia Kropac, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, said Africa must move from being a passive consumer to a creator of AI technologies. “Africa has an opportunity to define its own AI destiny… AI will redefine Africa’s future, driving solutions for African challenges like multilingual education, climate-smart agriculture, and mobile health diagnostics,” she noted.

The investment will fund the development of data centres, edge computing capabilities, and digital skills programmes. Safaricom has already trained 5,000 employees in AI fundamentals and is pushing for harmonized data and digital laws across the continent to build a scalable AI ecosystem.

Kropac reaffirmed Safaricom’s commitment to “delivering seamless, intelligent, and inclusive digital experiences,” adding that the company remains focused on enabling socio-economic growth through strategic investments and partnerships.

Source: Extensia.tech

Burkina Faso Aims for Nationwide Broadband Coverage by 2030

Broadband

Burkina Faso has set an ambitious target to achieve national broadband coverage by 2030, as part of its broader digital transformation agenda. The government’s strategy aims to expand access to telecom services and strengthen the country’s digital economy across sectors such as education, health, trade, agriculture, and public administration.

Unveiling the plan at the World Bank Group’s Private Sector Forum on May 27, Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, outlined a five-point strategy: promoting infrastructure sharing, eliminating coverage dead zones, reinforcing the national backbone, deploying fiber to homes, and increasing infrastructure investment.

While broadband is seen as a foundation for digital growth, Burkina Faso faces challenges. As of 2022, only 58% of the population had 3G access, and 39.4% had 4G, while 2G covered 92.6%. The UN’s 2024 telecom infrastructure index scored the country at 0.3640 out of 1, and the ITU ranked it 43rd out of 47 African nations in ICT development.

The government acknowledges that achieving meaningful connectivity also requires affordable devices, digital literacy, and accessible services.

Source: EcoFin Agency

New Communication Tower Boosts Connectivity in Rural Zambia

Rural Telephony

The Ministry of Technology and Science, in partnership with the Zambia Information and Communications Authority (ZICTA), has commissioned a new communication tower in Kalunkumya village, Mpongwe District. The initiative aims to enhance network coverage and drive digital inclusion in rural Zambia.

According to the Ministry, the new infrastructure is expected to stimulate local economic activity, improve emergency communication, and support mobile banking and other e-payment services.

“We are not only connecting people, but also their aspirations, knowledge, and future opportunities,” said Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati. He emphasized that connectivity in Mpongwe—an important agricultural zone—will enable access to market information, digital extension services, and improve transparency in government programmes like the Farmer Input Support Programme and social cash transfers.

ZICTA Director General Collins Mbulo highlighted the tower as part of a broader strategy to bridge the digital divide. “We are investing in a sustainable ecosystem of digital inclusion—one that also addresses the need for devices, digital literacy, and online safety,” he noted, adding that ZICTA is working closely with the Ministry of Education to support initiatives such as the digital curriculum.

Source: Extensia.tech

MTN MoMo, Onafriq partner on remittances in South Sudan

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MTN’s mobile money (MoMo) in South Sudan has teamed with Onafriq, a pan-African payments provider, to offer inbound international remittance services.

According to MTN MoMo, consumers in the East African country can receive money from 15 countries, including the UAE, Uganda, Kenya, the United States, and Australia, and the Onafriq collaboration provides a handy option for users who want to send money home from the diaspora.

This comes as the MTN Group announced its expansion of its international remittances capabilities by launching 25 additional wallet corridors in 10 new countries.

The company said the expansion of international remittance services is meant to promote financial inclusion and empower individuals, including those without traditional bank accounts, to access formal financial services.

Commenting on the partnership, Francis Matseketsa, CEO of fintech, MTN South Sudan, said, “We are not stopping. We are at it again with a strategic partnership with Onafriq, as we provide convenience to customers who want to send money back home from the diaspora.”

Source: Extensia.tech