Accra: Ghana's financial inclusion rate has surged to 81 per cent, primarily fueled by mobile money agents and basic phone-based transactions, according to the Bank of Ghana. The central bank highlighted that this achievement underscores the potential of financial systems built around existing infrastructure to enhance access to banking and digital services in developing nations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Matilda Asante Asiedu, Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, discussed this development at the 2026 3i Africa Summit in Accra. She emphasized that Ghana's model showcases how large-scale financial inclusion can be achieved without the necessity of smartphones or internet connectivity. "Anyone and everyone can send money from a phone with no internet connection, no smartphone, no app, no data plan - just a basic phone and a USSD code," she explained.
Mrs. Asiedu noted that the system, leveraging widespread mobile network access, has allowed millions of previously excluded individuals to engage in formal financial services such as payments, savings, and insurance. She referenced World Bank data that credits the 81 per cent inclusion rate to a system design that aligns with technologies already familiar to the population.
The Second Deputy Governor highlighted three key components of Ghana's success: utilizing basic mobile networks for financial transactions, expanding mobile money agent networks, and ensuring interoperability across service providers. She pointed out that reliance on basic mobile networks enables access to financial services for farmers, traders, and rural households without the need for smartphones, while agent networks play a crucial role in providing cash access nationwide.
Mrs. Asiedu stressed the importance of interoperability between mobile money platforms, which has fostered a unified payments system and bolstered digital finance as a fundamental national infrastructure. On the topic of investment conditions, she emphasized the need for predictable payment systems, clear regulatory frameworks, and robust consumer protections to attract capital into Africa's digital economy.
She urged policymakers to focus on implementation over policy formulation, advocating for functional digital infrastructure that supports large-scale economic participation. Mrs. Asiedu highlighted Africa's potential for financial innovation, calling for deeper system integration across the continent to achieve greater scale.
"Trust is at the heart of any financial transaction. Coordination and the discipline to build systems that are inclusive by design. That is what building on Africa's terms looks like. And that's the foundation on which our digital future must be built," she concluded.