Ghana Champions Continental Digital Trade Corridor at 3i Africa Summit
She emphasized that Africa’s long-term development will depend less on external narratives and more on how effectively countries on the continent build and integrate systems at scale.
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has shared details of her participation at the 3i Africa Summit 2026, a high-level gathering focused on Innovation, Investment, and Impact. The summit was hosted by the Bank of Ghana under the leadership of Governor Johnson Asiama, bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, innovators, and private sector actors to discuss Africa’s digital and economic future.
She emphasized that Africa’s long-term development will depend less on external narratives and more on how effectively countries on the continent build and integrate systems at scale. She noted that Ghana’s role as a gateway to Africa must be reflected in strong institutions and seamless systems that enable trade, innovation, and cross-border economic activity. According to her, modern economic sovereignty increasingly relies on digital integration, particularly secure payments systems, trusted digital identity frameworks, harmonised regulations, and robust infrastructure.
A major theme of her remarks was the progress Africa has already made in digital transformation, especially through mobile money, fintech expansion, and digital identity systems. However, she stressed that the next phase of growth will require scaling these innovations across borders. She referenced continental frameworks such as the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as key enablers for reducing trade friction, lowering transaction costs, and strengthening intra-African commerce.
She also highlighted a new initiative announced at the summit: Ghana will collaborate with Rwanda, Zambia, and other partners to pilot a Continental Digital Trade Corridor. The project is expected to focus on mobile money interoperability, cross-border digital identity recognition for KYC processes, and harmonised electronic invoicing, all aimed at advancing a more integrated African digital economy.
She further stressed the importance of continued investment in broadband infrastructure, cloud systems, and data sovereignty to ensure Africa can compete globally on its own terms. She concluded that as the world’s youngest continent, Africa’s future will be shaped by the systems built today, and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to continental collaboration, innovation, and digital transformation.
