The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, has called for strong regulatory systems to support financial innovation.
He warned that innovation without proper structures remains fragile.
He made the comments on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the ACI World Congress 2026.
Dr. Asiama said emerging economies are testing whether innovation can survive without strong institutions.
He stressed that regulation must grow alongside technology in the financial sector.
He said, “Innovation without regulatory architecture is fragile; innovation that is embedded within credible architecture compounds.”
Dr. Asiama said fragmented financial markets reduce competitiveness.
He added that connected markets perform better and attract more investment.
He stated ,“Markets that are not connected will not compete. Capital does not respect borders, but regulation often does.”
He said countries must build integration into financial systems from the start instead of fixing it later.
The Governor said Ghana is working with regional partners to strengthen financial integration across Africa.
These efforts include:
- fintech licensing passport systems
- harmonised payment infrastructure
- shared digital payment rails
He explained that these reforms aim to create a more connected African financial market.
Dr Asiama said a unified system would allow fintech companies licensed in one African country to operate in others more easily.
He explained that firms should not have to rebuild their systems when expanding across borders.
He said, “A fintech licensed in one African jurisdiction should be able to service a customer in another without rebuilding its financial stack from the start.”
