At the 2026 3i Africa Summit’s close in Accra, Governor Johnson P. Asiama said the Bank of Ghana plans to establish a continental fintech sandbox, launch a national innovation hub and introduce a separate legal framework for fintech regulation.
The initiatives form part of a broader strategy to deepen Africa’s digital financial ecosystem, improve regulatory coordination and support cross-border fintech growth across the continent.
The central bank’s planned continental sandbox is expected to provide fintech firms with a controlled regulatory environment to test products and services across multiple African jurisdictions, while supporting ongoing discussions around licence passporting and supervisory convergence among regulators.
He advised African policymakers to continue advancing the harmonisation of financial systems and regulatory standards to support the continent’s integrated digital finance agenda.
The announcements come as Ghana seeks to consolidate macroeconomic stability while accelerating digital financial reforms.
Ghana’s economy expanded by 6 percent in 2025, according to the Governor, supported by policy interventions aimed at restoring confidence and strengthening financial sector resilience.
Governor Asiama also pointed to recent regulatory reforms including passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), which provides a legal framework for digital asset operators.
The central bank has additionally issued a directive for digital credit service providers and amended its Cyber and Information Security Directive to strengthen resilience against cyber threats within the financial sector.
These measures signal a shift toward more formalised oversight of digital finance activities as African regulators attempt to balance innovation with financial stability and consumer protection.
Discussions at the summit reflected renewed investor and policy confidence in Africa’s digital finance sector; however, Dr. Asiama cautioned that implementation wi determine whether the continent can translate fintech growth into sustainable economic gains.
Africa’s financial technology ecosystem requires ‘patient capital’ and stronger institutional collaboration to scale innovation across the continent.
thebftonline
