الأخبار

Ghana showcases its Instant and Interoperable Payment System to African Central Banks and Payment Switches

9 مايو 2023

GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP), Ghana’s Instant Payment solution, is considered one of the most advanced on the Africa continent, based on AfricaNenda's State of Instant and Inclusive Payment Systems (SIIPS) in Africa report 2022. According to the inclusivity criteria outlined in the SIIPS report, GhIPSS instant Pay is ranked under “progressed inclusivity as it not only meets the fundamental IIPS criteria but also provides inclusive functionality that supports the most widely used channels and essential use-cases, including P2P and P2B transactions. As of December 2022, GhIPSS had processed a monthly average of 17.9 million Instant Payment transactions. This broad interoperability ecosystem includes 55 financial institutions working together to facilitate the movement of funds across different payment platforms in Ghana. A complete case study by AfricaNenda showed that with further improvements to its model, GhIPSS can move towards mature inclusivity.

Ghana's progress in developing an Instant Payment solution has reached different stages, which can be a source of inspiration for other African countries. In this regard, AfricaNenda has partnered with GhIPSS to organize a peer learning visit for selected African countries. The objective of the visit is to enhance the understanding and knowledge of central banks and switch operators in specific thematic areas. The participants will gain valuable insights into GhIPSS's scheme rules, business model and use cases. The learning visit will also help participating countries establish relevant networks and contacts to foster further sharing of expertise.


“GhIPSS is excited about this partnership as it affords us the opportunity to share the experiences and lessons learnt on our journey to achieving inclusive payments. I am optimistic this knowledge sharing experience will provide the needed guidance to the various participating countries as they embark on the development and deployment of their instant payment solutions" Archie Hesse, CEO of GhIPSS


“We believe that Ghana's experience can offer critical lessons and good practices for regulators and policymakers in other countries, which is aligned with the organization’s agenda to accelerate knowledge sharing and enhance the capacity of African institutions” said Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO AfricaNenda.

During the learning visit, central bank representatives from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and switches such as Rwanda Rswitch, Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limited (ZECHL) and Central Africa GIMAC will participate in technical learning sessions, networking sessions and field visits.

Through this peer-learning event, AfricaNenda hopes to support the growth of Instant and Inclusive Payment Systems in Africa, which are critical to achieving universal financial inclusion by 2030.


شارك هذه الصفحة

الأحدث news

Press Release
10 يوليو 2025
AfricaNenda Foundation and NIBSS Push for Scalable, Inclusive Payment Systems at Stakeholders Forum in Lagos
LAGOS, Nigeria – June 19, 2025 — Africa must move beyond building digital infrastructure for a limited elite and instead focus on scalable systems that serve the most vulnerable, including women, youth, and informal workers. Despite rising mobile use, fintech investment, and progress on digital public infrastructure, over 400 million Africans remain financially excluded. Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO of AfricaNenda Foundation, called this contradiction “not only unsustainable but unacceptable.” Speaking at the opening plenary of the Peer Learning Visit co-hosted by AfricaNenda Foundation and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) in Lagos, he urged policymakers to prioritize inclusive, interoperable systems built from the margins inward. “The real question is: can we build inclusive, scalable systems that serve every citizen — not just the privileged few?” he posed. He pointed to Nigeria’s NIBSS payment system as a proof point, stressing the importance of building interoperable, trusted systems rooted in strong governance and local ownership. “Nigeria’s NIBSS system is a case study in continental leadership. It processes nearly a billion transactions a month,” said Dr. Ochola. “It connects banks, fintechs, and switches. It operates 24/7, with real-time clearing, deep security, and inclusive design.” AfricaNenda Foundation, he noted, plays an active role in supporting system design, building regulatory capacity, and facilitating peer learning through communities of practice. “We listen, we learn, and we walk with countries as they build inclusive financial infrastructure,” he added. NIBSS Advocates for African-Built Solutions and Stronger Regulatory Collaboration Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director and CEO of NIBSS, urged African countries to move past legacy frameworks and develop homegrown payment solutions. He stressed the need to dismantle artificial trade barriers and foster continental integration. “Africa must move beyond colonial mindsets and build payment solutions by Africans, for Africans. Free trade requires free movement,” he said. Highlighting NIBSS’s close partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria as a model, Oiwoh called for real-time regulatory oversight and higher operational standards. He proposed the creation of an Africa Regulators Forum on Digital Payments to align standards, share knowledge, and co-create secure, inclusive systems across the continent. Central Bank of Nigeria Urges Regional Regulatory Dialogue to Combat Cash Dominance Representing Phillip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability at the Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman of NIBSS, Musa Jimoh reminded stakeholders that the true competitor in Africa’s financial landscape is cash, not other institutions. He explained that Nigeria’s instant payments model emerged from a need to solve local challenges through scalable innovation. To extend these gains continent-wide, Jimoh urged regulators to deepen collaboration and ongoing engagement. “Regulators across Africa should speak to each other. Collaborate and have continuous engagements. Let us prioritize this collaboration to meet the demands of an increasingly complex environment. Rise above jurisdictional silos to come together and work as Africans,” he said. Peer Learning Visit Sparks Continental Dialogue on Inclusive Payments The five-day event brought together delegates from over 10 African countries — including central banks, payment system operators, and regulators — for technical briefings, policy dialogues, site visits, and hands-on workshops. Nigeria’s NIP system served as a living case study in building interoperable, real-time payments that drive inclusion. Participants left with a shared ambition: to replicate Nigeria’s success while tailoring solutions to their own national and regional contexts — all with the goal of making inclusive instant payments a reality for all Africans. About AfricaNenda Foundation AfricaNenda Foundation is an Africa-based, African-led non-profit working with central banks and payment ecosystem stakeholders to accelerate the design, development, launch, and improvement of inclusive instant payment systems. Our team of 24 experts in 13 countries provides technical expertise, builds capacity, shares knowledge, and advocates for inclusivity across the instant payment system project lifecycle. Through this work, we aim to help deliver the power of seamless and affordable digital payments to 260 million financially excluded Africans by 2030. About NIBSS The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) is the central payment infrastructure provider in Nigeria, owned by all licensed banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria. It operates the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) platform, one of Africa’s most advanced real-time payment systems, supporting instant, interoperable transactions across banks, fintechs, and mobile money providers.