Ghana is stepping up efforts to reshape how business is done across Africa, with Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang unveiling plans for a bold continental digital trade corridor.
Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit 2026 in Accra, she revealed that Ghana will collaborate with countries such as Rwanda and Zambia to pilot systems designed to make cross-border digital transactions faster, smoother, and more reliable.
At the heart of the initiative is a push to remove long-standing barriers to intra-African trade. The pilot will test practical solutions including mobile money interoperability, mutual recognition of digital identities for cross-border Know Your Customer processes, and harmonised electronic invoicing systems.
“Ghana will work with everyone, Rwanda, Zambia, and other partners to pilot a continental digital trade corridor,” the Vice President said, signalling a collaborative approach that goes beyond bilateral agreements.
She explained that the project will not just be rolled out, but rigorously tested and measured to ensure it delivers real impact and can scale across the continent. According to her, the goal is to build systems that are not only efficient but adaptable to Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
“These pilots, which will be implemented, tested, and measured, will focus on mobile money interoperability, mutual recognition of digital identity for cross-border KYC, and harmonised electronic invoicing,” she added.
Beyond the technical details, the Vice President framed the initiative as a defining moment for Africa’s economic future. She warned that the infrastructure being developed today will determine whether the continent competes globally on its own terms or remains dependent on external systems.
“The systems we build will determine whether Africa participates in the global digital economy on her own terms, or operates within frameworks defined elsewhere,” she noted.
She also emphasised that true integration will require systems that function seamlessly across borders and at scale, rather than fragmented national solutions.
The proposed digital corridor aligns with broader continental ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to boost intra-African trade and deepen economic cooperation among member states.
As the conversation shifts from policy to implementation, the Vice President called for stronger coordination between governments, regulators, and private sector players, stressing that collaboration will be key to making the initiative a success.
The 3i Africa Summit, running from May 6 to May 8 at the Destiny Arena, has brought together fintech innovators, policymakers, regulators, and investors under the theme “The Next Frontier: Shaping Africa’s Integrated FinTech Future.”
