Gabby Asare Okyere-Darko
Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has called on African governments to support the vision for interoperability among member states to enhance intra-Africa trade.
The Executive chairman and founder of APN, Gabby Asare Okyere-Darko who made the call at a press conference held in Accra ahead of an international symposium on advancing interoperability on the African continent said mobile money interoperability is one of the digital tools that could significantly help improve the challenges facing Africa’s payment infrastructure.
“We believe that if we can get interoperability working, particularly in the areas where tens and millions of medium, small, and micro-scale enterprises on the continent operate, it will really make meaningful the whole idea of intra-African trade,” he said.
He said that mobile money transaction has become a key feature for payment of goods and services for most businesses in recent times hence the need for all stakeholders to discuss interoperability as an enabler for economic growth.
He stated that APN therefore advocates for interoperability across the continent with the support of various stakeholders such as banks, regulators, governments among others in the sub-region.
Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Ken Ashigbey also said integrating Africa’s payment systems is the surest way the African Union (AU) could achieve the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said the traditional payment systems changed with the advent of recent technologies that made it possible for the digital payments for goods and services.
He said Africa could take advantage and lead the conversation on interoperability using mobile money as the base for the operation of fintech.
Executive Board member of APN, Geyheart Mensah, said African countries can become self sufficient if they align their value chains, integrate and trade among themselves.
He said the symposium on interoperability slated for July 5, 2024 will host several stakeholders in the telecommunications sector, banking, some political actors and business executives.
APN is the vehicle that runs the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, committed to creating the platforms for partnerships among political and business leaders, civil society, academia and traditional authorities in Africa.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah