The Group Chief Executive Officer and President of MTN, Ralph Mupita, has expressed optimism about Africa’s growing role in shaping the future of global digital finance, stating that the continent is strategically positioned to lead the next phase of financial transformation.
Speaking during a fireside chat with broadcaster Bernard Avle at the 3i Africa Summit held at the Destiny Arena in Accra, Mr Mupita said Africa’s rapid growth in mobile money and digital financial services has laid a solid foundation for a more advanced and integrated digital finance ecosystem.
According to him, the continent is gradually transitioning from basic mobile money services to a broader digital finance architecture driven by technology and innovation.
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“We are moving from mobile money to true digital finance. Across Africa, we have seen tremendous growth in financial inclusion, but the next phase will be defined by more sophisticated, app-based, and technology-driven financial systems,” he stated.
Mr Mupita explained that the future of digital finance would extend beyond payments to include digital credit systems, remittances, embedded finance, artificial intelligence applications and blockchain-enabled services.
He stressed that Africa is no longer merely adapting to global financial trends but is increasingly influencing the direction of innovation globally.
“Africa is poised to lead in the global digital finance evolution. The scale of adoption, the pace of innovation, and the unique market dynamics we are seeing across the continent position us strongly for the future,” he noted.
Touching on financial inclusion, the MTN Group CEO highlighted the contribution of telecommunications companies in expanding access to financial services, especially among underserved populations.
“Telecom-led platforms have been critical in democratizing access to financial services. They have enabled us to reach customers at scale and at a cost structure that traditional models struggled to achieve,” he said.
Mr Mupita also underscored the importance of strong regulatory frameworks, consumer protection and innovation-friendly policies to sustain growth within Africa’s digital finance ecosystem.
“The key is balance, between enabling innovation and protecting consumers. Regulation must be clear, forward-looking, and supportive of responsible growth,” he added.
The summit, now in its third year, is anchored on Innovation, Investment and Impact, and featured discussions on virtual assets, tokenisation, artificial intelligence, open banking and digital public infrastructure.
The 2026 3i Africa Summit was organised by the Bank of Ghana, Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), and the Global Finance & Technology Network with support from MobileMoney LTD.
The summit brought together policymakers, regulators, fintech leaders and investors under the theme: “The Next Frontier: Shaping Africa’s Integrated FinTech Future.”
