The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has disclosed that the central bank is finalising agreements with the Bank of Rwanda on a fintech passport framework aimed at enabling cross-border licensing and strengthening trade cooperation across Africa.
Speaking at the opening session of the African Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2026 on Wednesday, February 4, Ms Asante-Asiedu said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to simplify and improve cross-border payment systems on the continent.
She explained that enhanced payment interoperability is critical to reducing the high cost and complexity of financial transactions between African countries, which continue to impede smooth trade flows.
According to Ms Asante-Asiedu, expensive and slow cross-border payments remain a major barrier to the growth of intra-African trade and the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Now at the Bank of Ghana, we are advancing key initiatives. First is our fintech passport, which is a strategic collaboration between the Bank of Ghana and the Bank of Rwanda to enable cross-border licensing and regulatory trust. We believe this solution can be scaled across Africa to facilitate trade,” she said.
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