Industry News

The collaboration will enable Ugandan enterprises to connect with customers seamlessly through multiple communication channels including SMS, WhatsApp, voice, email and chat applications, allowing businesses to deliver faster, more personalized and automated interactions.

MTN Uganda has announced a strategic partnership with global cloud communications platform Infobip aimed at equipping businesses with advanced digital communication tools that enhance customer engagement, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation.

The collaboration will enable Ugandan enterprises to connect with customers seamlessly through multiple communication channels including SMS, WhatsApp, voice, email and chat applications, allowing businesses to deliver faster, more personalized and automated interactions.

This partnership follows a growing demand for integrated communication as more Ugandan businesses adopt digital platforms to engage customers. The partnership between MTN Uganda and Infobip seeks to address this need by providing businesses with scalable communication technology supported by MTN’s nationwide connectivity infrastructure.

“Digital communication is becoming central to how businesses engage their customers and deliver services. Through our partnership with Infobip, MTN Uganda is strengthening its role as a technology partner to enterprises by providing innovative platforms that help businesses improve customer experiences, increase efficiency and unlock new growth opportunities.”

– Ibrahim Senyonga the General Manager, Enterprise Business Unit, MTN Uganda

Infobip’s global communications platform powers messaging solutions for thousands of organizations worldwide and will now be accessible to Ugandan businesses through MTN’s

“We are excited to partner with MTN Uganda to support the digital transformation of business sector in Uganda. By combining MTN’s strong network infrastructure with Infobip’s AI-powered customer engagement technology, businesses across Uganda will be able to connect with customers across multiple channels and create richer, more connected customer experiences. With the launch of Infobip AgentOS, businesses will be equipped with a powerful platform to orchestrate the full customer experience. AgentOS transforms how companies communicate by seamlessly integrating AI agents and customer journey orchestration into one intelligent layer. It allows businesses to automate tasks, personalize customer interactions, and streamline CX management. This launch marks a significant step forward in delivering smarter, more efficient customer engagement at scale.”

– Domenico Devescovi, Global Director Telecom Strategy and Partnerships, Infobip

Beyond improving customer engagement, the partnership also supports the growth of Uganda’s digital economy by enabling businesses to adopt modern communication tools that drive productivity and innovation.

As Uganda advances its Digital Transformation Agenda under the National Development Plan IV and Vision 2040, the adoption of digital communication platforms will play an important role in enabling businesses to scale, improve service delivery and compete in an increasingly connected economy.

By combining MTN Uganda’s connectivity leadership with Infobip’s global communication technology, businesses will gain access to solutions that support automated messaging, omnichannel engagement, and real-time customer interaction.

Source : www. techafricanews.com

A one-day seminar focused on competition economics, policy and law has taken place in Accra.

The seminar was attended by legal and consumer representatives from public and private organisations across various industries, as well as some members of the judiciary. 

It was organised by the Competition and Markets Centre, with competition law experts from King’s College, delivering the lecture.  

Opening the seminar, Benson Nutsukpui, Managing Partner of Kuenyehia & Nutsukpui, and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association, underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive and coherent competition law framework in Ghana. 

He described the current regulatory regime as fragmented, relying on scattered statutes and sector-specific mandates that are inadequate to address complex market dynamics such as cartels, abuse of dominance, and merger control. 

Drawing on practical experience, he cited the prolonged litigation between Internet Ghana Limited and Ghana Telecom as evidence of inefficiencies arising from the absence of a dedicated competition authority, noting that such disputes could have been resolved more effectively within a structured regime.

“What we do not have is a coherent, economy-wide competition statute that addresses cartels, abuse of dominance, and merger control in a systematic way. The result is a framework that is woefully inadequate to the demands of a modern market economy,” he stated.

He emphasised that Ghana is at a pivotal policy juncture, with a draft Competition Policy and Bill still pending enactment, providing stakeholders with a crucial opportunity to develop a strong and future-proof framework. 

Highlighting the importance of clarity in legal drafting, he warned against poorly calibrated provisions, stating that “a competition regime that departs from settled principles… can produce regulatory outcomes that harm the very markets it seeks to protect.” 

He also noted regional developments, including the AfCFTA Protocol on Competition Policy, as emphasising the need for alignment to avoid putting Ghanaian businesses at a disadvantage. 

Mr Nutsukpui described the seminar as a timely platform for collaborative engagement among legal, economic, and regulatory actors, expressing confidence that such dialogue will translate into actionable reforms. 

“As he notes, “some conversations are too important to delay,” reinforcing the urgency and significance of advancing Ghana’s competition policy agenda.

The keynote speaker for the one-day seminar, Dr Juliet Twumasi-Anokye, who chairs the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority’s decision-making Council, framed the debate within Ghana’s regional and continental commitments. She noted that the ECOWAS Treaty and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Competition Policy made coherent domestic enforcement not just desirable, but essential.

“Competition law is at its core protecting the process of competition—not competitors. It must ensure markets remain open, dynamic, and innovative. 

For us in Ghana, this is not merely a legal, economic or even a political issue; it is a crucial developmental imperative,” Dr Twumasi-Anokye stated. 

She highlighted the risks of fragmented oversight, digital market complexities, and the need for institutional capacity.

“Competition law is at its core protecting the process of competition—not competitors. It must ensure markets remain open, dynamic, and innovative. 

For us in Ghana, this is not merely a legal, economic or even a political issue; it is a crucial developmental imperative,” Dr Twumasi-Anokye stated. 

She highlighted the risks of fragmented oversight, digital market complexities, and the need for institutional capacity.

David Bailey KC, Professor of Practice Law at King’s College London and Standing Counsel to the UK Competition and Markets Authority, underscored the importance of aligning Ghana’s framework with evolving global practice, particularly in digital markets. 

He called for a regime that balances rigorous enforcement with predictability for businesses, noting that well-designed competition law serves as an enabler of innovation rather than a constraint.

The Managing Director of the Competition & Markets Centre, Kofi Datsa, reaffirmed the seminar’s purpose as a final window for constructive input before the Bill is laid before Parliament.

“Once a bill passes, the architecture is fixed. Today, it is still open. This seminar is designed not merely to educate, but to galvanise stakeholders—lawmakers, regulators, the judiciary, and the business community—to engage with the drafts and ensure that Ghana’s competition law is built on sound principles from the outset. 

“We are grateful to our distinguished speakers and all participants for committing to this critical national conversation,” Mr Datsa said.

Participants at the seminar included representatives of the Ministry of Communications, Digitalisation and Innovation, as well as sectoral regulators such as the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the National Insurance Commission (NIC). 

Also in attendance were representatives from the Chamber of Telecommunications, GRIDCO, MTN, AT, C-Squared, CUTS International, and lawyers from firms such as BELA, AB & David, Law Trust, N. Dowouna and Co, Amenuvor and Associates, among others.

Source : www.myjoyonline.com

Two hundred residents of Ijara Constituency in Garissa County received digital skills certificates on Friday as Huawei’s DigiTruck programme concluded its latest training cycle, bringing mobile classrooms and hands-on technology education to one of Kenya’s more remote corners.

The graduation ceremony, held at Baraza Park in Masalani, drew national and county leaders including Hon. John Kiarie, Chair of the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, alongside local Members of Parliament and county officials.

Garissa becomes the third county in the North Eastern region to host the initiative, following rollouts in Wajir earlier this year and Mandera in 2021.

The DigiTruck itself — a solar-powered, fully equipped mobile classroom — is central to the programme’s reach. Rather than requiring learners to travel to urban training centres, the truck moves the classroom to the community. Participants receive training in digital literacy, online safety, entrepreneurship, and the practical use of digital tools.

Programme organisers say the model is particularly significant in addressing Kenya’s persistent gender divide in digital access. Nationally, only 35 percent of women use mobile internet compared to 50 percent of men. For every 100 young men with measurable digital skills, just 65 young women have comparable competencies.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Kiarie framed digital skills as no longer a luxury but an economic necessity. He challenged graduates to put their training to work — building businesses, creating jobs, and solving local problems through technology.

Jessy Kiveu Maruti, CEO of the ICT Authority, also addressed the gathering, commending the multi-stakeholder approach that underpins the initiative and linking it directly to the government’s broader vision of a digitally empowered Kenya.

Since its launch, the DigiTruck programme has trained nearly 10,500 people — among them youth, women, teachers, and small business owners — across 42 of Kenya’s 47 counties. The training is offered free of charge.

Graduates at Friday’s ceremony spoke of tangible shifts: greater confidence navigating digital platforms, new pathways into online work, and a clearer sense of how technology could support their livelihoods and access to services.

Huawei says it intends to continue expanding the programme nationwide, with the goal of ensuring that geographic remoteness is no longer a barrier to participation in Kenya’s digital economy.

Source : africabusinesscommunities.com

MTN Group has announced a major reshuffle of its board, appointing five independent non-executive directors as part of an extensive succession planning process. The move also coincides with a leadership change at its South African subsidiary.

The Johannesburg-based telecommunications company currently has 12 non-executive directors. Following the latest appointments, the board will temporarily expand to 15 members, effective from 31 March 2026.

The newly appointed directors are Herman Bosman, Advocate Ouma Rasethaba, Stéphane Richard, Ignatius Sehoole and Saf Yeboah-Amankwah.

Bosman, who chairs MTN Group Fintech, previously served as chief executive of RMB Holdings and RMI Holdings. He brings significant expertise in financial services, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance.

Rasethaba is a former deputy national director of public prosecutions in South Africa and previously led the Asset Forfeiture Unit. She has also held senior roles at Telkom, including chief governance officer and chief risk officer.

Richard, formerly group chief executive of Orange, one of the world’s largest telecoms operators, oversaw the company’s expansion across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Sehoole, a former chief executive of KPMG South Africa and past president of Saica, contributes both financial and telecommunications sector experience.

Yeboah-Amankwah recently served as senior vice-president and chief strategy officer at Intel. He was also a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, advising across the technology, media and telecommunications industries.

Governance and compliance

In line with paragraph 5.6 of the JSE Listing Requirements, MTN confirmed that all incoming directors underwent thorough “fit and proper” assessments, including independent verification of their qualifications. The board expressed satisfaction with the outcomes.

Additionally, in accordance with paragraph 6.74 of the JSE rules, none of the new appointees have made any declarations requiring disclosure.

The group said the changes are intended to reinforce governance, deepen expertise, and enhance strategic oversight.

Two long-serving board members, Stan Miller and Nkululeko Sowazi, both appointed in August 2016, will step down at the annual general meeting on May 29, 2026, after more than nine years of service.

‘These changes are part of the Group’s comprehensive succession planning to ensure delivery against our evolved Ambition 2030 strategy. They also reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, expertise

and strategic oversight,” said MTN Group Chairman Jonas Mcebisi. “The Board will temporarily expand to accommodate new appointments during the transition period and will gradually reduce as directors retire and succession plans progress.”

Mcebisi also expressed appreciation for the outgoing directors contributions and welcomed the new members, noting their role in advancing MTN’s ambition to deliver digital solutions that support Africa’s development.

Changes at MTN South Africa

Separately, Mike Harper will step down as chairman of MTN South Africa on 31 March 2026, a position he has held since 2016. Sindi Mabaso-Koyana will assume the role from the same date.

Harper will remain on the MTN South Atrica board until 31 July 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

Noluthando Gosa, currently an independent non-executive director on the MTN Group board, will also join the MTN South Africa board as a non-executive director, subject to the completion of governance processes. Both Mabaso-Koyana and Gosa will continue serving on the MTN Group board.

Source: www.ceo.co.ug

Ericsson South Africa has appointed Siseko Ngxola as country head, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the local market and its focus on advancing connectivity-driven innovation.

Siseko assumes responsibility for leading the company’s local strategy development and execution, with a mandate to strengthen Ericsson’s market position and deepen engagement with customers and partners across South Africa’s telecommunications ecosystem.

He brings more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector. Prior to this appointment, Siseko served as key account manager at Ericsson, where he was responsible for managing strategic customer relationships. His career also includes senior leadership roles at Amdocs, Nokia and Cisco, where he gained experience across network infrastructure, digital services and enterprise technology solutions.

“I am honored to lead Ericsson in South Africa during such an exciting time. The power of connectivity to transform lives and industries has never been more apparent,” Siseko says.

His appointment follows the departure of his predecessor and comes at a time of continued evolution in the local and global telecommunications landscape. Siseko is expected to guide Ericsson South Africa through this period, with a focus on aligning technology leadership with measurable outcomes for customers, industry stakeholders and the broader economy.

 Source : cio-sa.co.za

MTN Ghana is in active discussions with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) over securing a digital banking licence, as the telecommunications giant positions itself for the next phase of financial services expansion that would move it well beyond traditional mobile money operations.

MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita confirmed the pursuit during his three-day strategic visit to Accra in February 2026, describing digital banking as the natural next step in deepening financial inclusion across the country. He said the company intended to offer app-based financial experiences enabling users to manage payments, savings, and a broader range of financial services with greater convenience and security.

Mobile money, with 63 million users across MTN markets, remains a key growth driver for the group. While MTN does not yet view itself as a bank, Mupita indicated that a licence could be considered if customer needs demand it.

At the central bank, discussions focused on collaboration to combat fraud and mobile money scams. “We are going to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the ability to deal with scams and fraud that we see particularly in the mobile money market,” Mupita said. He identified the digital economy and fintech as the two primary engines of growth for MTN Ghana, noting that the company intends to introduce more advanced financial services while maintaining close engagement with regulators to align with national financial inclusion objectives.

The digital banking push complements a broader strategic shift. MTN Ghana has been formally elevated to the status of a third major subsidiary within the MTN Group, placing it alongside MTN Nigeria and MTN South Africa in the group’s highest tier, a recognition that carries significant implications for investment flows and capital allocation.

Mupita announced plans to deploy US$1.1 billion in Ghana over the next three years, contrasting it with the US$1 billion invested over the previous five years, a near-doubling of investment intensity. For 2026 alone, MTN Ghana Chief Executive Officer Stephen Blewett committed more than US$300 million in capital expenditure focused on network expansion and digital infrastructure.

MTN Ghana’s Mobile Money (MoMo) platform has grown to serve over 19 million active users nationwide, enabling money transfers, bill payments, savings, and micro-financial solutions, many of which were previously out of reach for rural and underserved communities. A full digital banking licence would allow the company to offer a significantly expanded product suite on top of that existing base.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

The traditional telecommunications scratch card is rapidly disappearing from the Ghanaian market as consumers increasingly shift to mobile money (MoMo) and Electronic Vending Devices (EVDs)

This transition reflects a broader evolution in the country’s digital economy, rendering physical scratch cards nearly obsolete and compelling vendors to adopt electronic airtime distribution systems.

Although the shift began gradually over the past decade, it was significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when movement restrictions and the need for contactless transactions pushed many consumers to adopt digital payment options.

Mr David Amartey, a mobile money vendor, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the convenience of purchasing airtime remotely during the pandemic has now become a lasting preference.

“The pandemic reduced the reliance on face-to-face transactions and encouraged a more digital lifestyle,” he said.

Mr Amartey noted that digital systems have also eliminated common challenges associated with physical scratch cards, such as damage and difficulty in retrieving codes.

He said, however, that the supply of EVDs, which enable specific data purchases such as 1GB (gigabyte) bundles, remained inconsistent.

“The EVDs are scarce. We usually get them only on Tuesdays and Fridays, making it difficult to meet customer demand,” he said.

The shortage has forced many vendors to rely primarily on mobile money platforms, which, while convenient, present challenges including network instability and the risk of transaction errors.

Some residents in Tema and Ashaiman attributed the shift largely to convenience.

“With MoMo, you can buy airtime from home or the office without going out to find a vendor,” Ms Selina Thompson said.

She, however, noted risks such as sending airtime to the wrong number and exposure to scams.

Ms Emmanuella Appiah, another resident, said the unpredictability of finding vendors influenced her decision to adopt mobile money services.

“With MoMo, I can recharge anytime,” she said, adding that telecommunications companies now offer incentives such as bonus airtime for digital transactions.

The growing preference for digital platforms suggests that physical scratch cards may soon become a relic of the past.

Source: gna.org.gh

Canada’s telecom sector is facing a pivotal moment as a key regulatory framework governing wireless competition approaches its 2030 expiry, raising questions about investment, pricing and long-term network quality.

BNN Bloomberg spoke with Maher Yaghi, managing director, telecom, media and infrastructure analyst at Scotiabank, about how regulatory policy, capital spending and competitive dynamics are shaping Canada’s wireless future.

Key Takeaways

• Canada’s wireless market relies more heavily on regulation than investment-driven competition, creating structural differences from the U.S. 
• Uncertainty over whether mandated network access will extend beyond 2030 is delaying investment and shaping industry strategy. 
• Limited capital investment by challengers is constraining the development of a strong fourth national competitor. 
• Incumbent carriers may cut capital spending to protect free cash flow, which could support valuations but weaken long-term network quality. 
• Quebecor’s valuation premium is closely tied to regulatory support, with potential downside if that support is removed
• LINDSAY: In 2030, Quebecor’s CRTC-mandated access to the big three carriers’ wireless networks expires. Until regulators decide whether that access will be extended, Canada’s telecom sector is stuck in a period of uncertainty. Our next guest argues that Canada’s market is fundamentally different from the U.S., where competition is driven by investment rather than regulation. Here to tell us more is Maher Yaghi, managing director and telecom and media analyst at Scotiabank. It’s great to have you join us. Thanks so much.
• MAHER: Thank you for having me.
• LINDSAY: So these differences that you’re highlighting between Canada’s market and the U.S. market — how do these differences shape the competitive landscape in each country?
• MAHER: Yeah, great. So, you know, having covered both the Canadian and the U.S. market, it’s very clear from our research that, to get a sustainable competitor to remain in place long term, to affect and lower prices in the marketplace, it’s better to see that competitor invest significantly in infrastructure to position themselves to compete in the long term, instead of relying on regulation to provide them the network infrastructure to compete. In our view, for Canada to continue to see a competitive wireless market, we need to see significant investment by the challenger, which we have not seen so far to date.
• LINDSAY: How would you start to see investment, though? What needs to happen for that to change?
• MAHER: Right now, regulation is definitely helping Quebecor, and Quebecor has played their hand perfectly in terms of utilizing the regulatory environment to provide cheaper plans in the marketplace. But to continue to rely on regulation means that you’re sacrificing the investment opportunity that new technology will allow you to provide to consumers over the long term. Because, through the regulation that the CRTC has put in place, the return on invested capital for the incumbents has been lowered significantly. You’re basically socializing a little bit of the network effect that these companies have invested in to provide support to a challenger. What that means in the long term — and we’ve seen that happen in Europe and other places where we have that kind of regulation — is that the incumbents reduce their investments because they need to protect their free cash flow, and hence, long term, the technology and the network start to deteriorate.
• We argue in our report that for the incumbents like Bell, Telus and Rogers right now, they’re being handicapped by investors. Their stock performance has been quite negative compared to the S&P/TSX, and in our view, their best approach going forward is to really significantly cut their capex, because they’re not going to get the return on those investments like they did in the past. So eventually, the CRTC, I think, is going to come to a crossroads. They’re going to have to decide either they need to continue to provide the subsidy to the challenger long term and suffer the consequence of deteriorating networks, or basically stop the regulation, as it was intended to be stopped in 2030, and let Quebecor compete on their own.
• LINDSAY: Okay, so I want to go back to something you said just a moment ago, and that is you think the incumbents should be cutting wireless capex. How would that boost BCE, Rogers and Telus stock moving forward? And also, what impact would that have on the country’s productivity as a whole?
• MAHER: Yeah. So these companies, when you look at valuations for telco stocks, they trade on free cash flow. Free cash flow is really the biggest determinant of success for a stock, and growth in free cash flow is the most important metric. These companies, in our view, by cutting their capex to levels that we see both in the U.S. and other places in the world, could provide them with upside in the 10 to 15 per cent range from a valuation perspective. Now, obviously, productivity for the country will not be helped by that. However, these companies have high leverage ratios right now — all three of them, Telus, Bell and Rogers — so they would do themselves a favour, in our view, and see their stock performance improve if they were to cut their capex, like we’re suggesting in the report.
• LINDSAY: Okay, so we’ve talked about the incumbents. Now let’s talk a little bit more about Quebecor, because some investors, you say, are treating Quebecor as Canada’s version of T-Mobile. Why do you think that comparison misses the mark?
• MAHER: This is a flawed comparison, in our view. It’s wishful thinking. We provide the background in our analysis to show that T-Mobile became the T-Mobile that it is — and if you want, we can maybe talk a little bit about that. T-Mobile has really changed the behaviour of Verizon and AT&T in the U.S. by investing significantly in network infrastructure, and now T-Mobile has one of the best networks, if not the best network, in 5G in the U.S.
• This is completely the opposite for Canada. When you look at capex intensity by Quebecor, it’s one of the lowest in North America. Second of all, if you look at market share for T-Mobile, when they bought Sprint in 2020, they had about 20 per cent market share. That went up to about 33 per cent market share after the acquisition. In the case of Quebecor, you’re running at right now 12 to 13 per cent. They’re adding only half a per cent per year in market share. It will take them a very long time to catch up to where T-Mobile was in 2020 and to position themselves as a real challenger long term. But our view is that to really become a significant challenger like T-Mobile, they have to invest more, which, I think it’s easily argued, they have not so far.
• LINDSAY: And just lastly, how much of Quebecor’s valuation depends on the CRTC extending this contract beyond 2030?
• MAHER: So right now, Quebecor stock is trading at eight times EBITDA, for example, in the same environment — the same level of multiple that T-Mobile is trading at. T-Mobile is growing more than twice as fast as Quebecor. However, when you compare Quebecor to the other incumbents in Canada, they’re trading at a point or even two points premium to the incumbents. All that premium, in my view, is related to this regulatory support that is coming from the CRTC. So if that regulatory support goes away in 2030, we expect multiples to contract or to converge to where the other incumbents are trading.
• LINDSAY: Okay, we’ll leave it there. That was Maher Yaghi, managing director and telecom and media analyst at Scotiabank. Appreciate your time and your insight on this. Thanks so much.

This BNN Bloomberg summary and transcript of the March 25, 2026 interview with Maher Yaghi are published with the assistance of AI. Original research, interview questions and added context was created by BNN Bloomberg journalists. An editor also reviewed this material before it was published to ensure its accuracy and adherence with BNN Bloomberg editorial policies and standards.

BNN Bloomberg is owned by Bell Media, which is a division of BCE.

Source : www.bnnbloomberg.ca

• Mobile money transactions in Africa reached $1.43 trillion in 2025, up 27%
• Continent accounts for 66% of global transaction value and 74% of volume
• East and West Africa lead, while North and Southern Africa lag behind

Mobile money transactions in Africa reached about $1.43 trillion in 2025. This is a 27% increase from 2024, according to a report released on March 24 by the GSMA.

The State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2026 shows that Africa accounted for roughly 66% of the global value of mobile money transactions, which totaled $2.09 trillion, up 23% year-on-year.

The continent also represented about 74% of the total number of mobile money transactions worldwide, with around 92 billion transactions recorded in 2025, a 16% increase from 2024, out of a global total of 125 billion. Africa hosted 52% of all mobile money accounts globally, with about 1.2 billion accounts at the end of 2025, up 18% from the previous year, compared with 2.3 billion worldwide.

However, the report highlights significant disparities across regions. Africa has 187 active mobile money services, out of 347 globally.

Usage broadens across the continent

East Africa leads the market, with 537 million accounts and transaction volumes reaching $806 billion in 2025. West Africa follows with 517 million accounts and $498 billion in transaction value, ahead of Central Africa, which recorded 128 million accounts and $105 billion.

Mobile money remains less developed in North Africa, with 30 million accounts and $15 billion in transaction value, and in Southern Africa, with 33 million accounts and $8 billion. This is partly due to higher levels of banking penetration in those regions.

The GSMA also notes that usage is becoming more consistent, with the number of monthly active accounts rising 19% to 347 million, representing about 28% of all mobile money accounts in Africa.

Globally, mobile money use has expanded significantly in recent years. It now includes merchant payments ($155 billion in 2025), bill payments ($99 billion), cross-border remittances ($45 billion), and bulk disbursements—such as salaries and social transfers—totaling $139 billion.

Savings, insurance, and lending products are also increasingly offered by mobile money providers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Source : www.ecofinagency.com

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has unveiled a revised Cyber and Information Security Directive (CISD) 2026 to provide a comprehensive framework to strengthen cyber and information security protocols and safeguard the financial sector against rising digital threats. 

The new directive, which replaced the 2018 framework that had become outdated due to rapid technological changes, is aimed at strengthening resilience across the digital financial ecosystem.

The directive signalled a shift from traditional financial supervision to a broader mandate that prioritised the protection of data confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Unveiling

The CISD is a comprehensive regulatory framework developed by the Bank of Ghana to strengthen cyber resilience and protect the integrity of the country’s financial system.

It was unveiled on the theme “Safer and more resilient digital financial industry”.

It was attended by the Governor of the BoG, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama; the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George; the first Deputy Governor of the BoG, Dr Zakari Mumuni; The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), John Awuah and other dignitaries.

National importance

At the launch of the CISD at the Bank Square in Accra yesterday, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, stressed that protecting digital financial systems had become a matter of national importance as the economy grew increasingly technology-driven.

He stated that as Ghana’s financial systems had become increasingly digital, safeguarding them had become a matter of national importance

He said cybersecurity could no longer be treated as a narrow technical issue but had to be integrated into governance, operations, and institutional culture. 

“By strengthening cyber resilience, we were not only protecting infrastructure; we were protecting confidence in the entire financial ecosystem,” Mr Debrah added.

Major milestone

Dr Asiama described the launch of the revised CISD as a major milestone in safeguarding the country’s financial ecosystem.

He said the new directive reflected the central pillar of the bank’s regulatory philosophy and its commitment to every Ghanaian who entrusted their accounts and transactions to the banking industry.

He said that innovations such as mobile money, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence had revolutionised financial access and inclusion, but had also exposed the sector to complex cyber threats, including ransomware attacks and systemic data breaches.

Dr Asiama stated that the CISD 2026 introduced robust governance, board-level accountability, proportionality frameworks, and inclusive oversight, ensuring that all institutions—from rural banks to fintechs—were integrated into a unified defence through the Financial Industry Command Security Operations Centre (FIXOC).

Mr Nartey George lauded the BoG for embracing technology and integrating it into the core of banking operations.

He stated that banks, once conservative and technology-averse, were now viewing digital tools as central to their business models.

“The attacks that we face in the sector are vast, and no one institution can withstand them alone; our collective shield protects us all,” he said.

He added that the ministry was reviewing the list of critical information infrastructure to ensure all payment service providers and fintechs were properly designated and onboarded. 

source : www.graphic.com.gh