Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), the national payment infrastructure provider, secured two prestigious awards at the Africa Digital Economy Awards held over the weekend in Nairobi, Kenya. GhIPSS' product, GhanaPay, was recognized as the Best Government Payment of the Year, while the Chief Executive, Archie Hesse, earned a spot among the Africa Top 50 Digital Economy Leaders.
The Africa Digital Economy Awards, presented in collaboration with the Africa Digital Economy Forum, celebrated digital champions, innovators, creatives, and inventions contributing to various facets of the digital economy. This marks the eighth year of the awards scheme.
Archie Hesse's recent honours include being named the Most Inspiring Payments Business Leader in West Africa at the Africa Bank 4.0 Summit in Lagos, Nigeria. Additionally, he was the exclusive African speaker at the Chicago Payment Symposium in the United States, an annual forum hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for leaders in the payment industry.
GhIPSS has emerged as a trailblazer not only in Africa but globally, with countries and electronic payment providers studying its model. The GhanaPay mobile money service, launched last year, stands out by combining essential mobile money features with banking services, offering users a unique financial freedom experience. GhIPSS has garnered attention globally, with some countries introducing similar products modeled after its offerings in Ghana.
Expressing his gratitude for the awards, Mr. Hesse credited the hard work of GhIPSS staff and management, as well as the strategic direction set by the Board for the company's numerous successes. He emphasized GhIPSS' commitment to collaborating with partner institutions to advance the payments industry, highlighting the pivotal role GhanaPay will play in fostering financial inclusion in Ghana. Mr. Hesse encouraged the public to register for and enjoy the GhanaPay experience.
As part of the ongoing efforts to promote GhanaPay, a series of fairs has been organised nationwide. Recently concluded events took place at Koforidua Technical University, All Nations University, and the Central Market in Koforidua. Subsequent fairs will be held in various locations in Accra such as Katamanto, Timber Market, Dansoman Last Stop, and Chemuena (Chorkor) from November 16th to 24th, followed by the Bono East and Bono regions, including towns like Techiman, Sunyani, Berekum, and Dormaa Ahenkro, from November 27th to December 5th. The GhanaPay Mobile Money Experience Fair will then move to Ada and Sogakope in the Greater Accra and Volta Region on December 11th and 12th, as well as December 13th and 14th, respectively.