Ghana’s former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has made a strong case for Africa to fully embrace digitalisation as a major catalyst for the development of the continent.
At the prestigious Cambridge Africa Business Conference, Dr. Bawumia delivered a rousing message of purpose and progress, declaring, “I was made for this!” His bold statement punctuated a keynote address that outlined Africa’s digital transformation as not just a policy priority but a personal mission.
Speaking on the impact of key digital reforms on the theme: ‘Africa’s Digital Transformation: Building Resilient Economies Through Innovation,’ on Saturday May 17, 2025, Dr. Bawumia hailed Ghana’s progress in digital financial services, declaring the country as the fastest growing mobile money market on the African continent.
He credited Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI) as the game-changer that transformed the financial landscape in Ghana.
“We asked the questions: why can’t we make it possible to send mobile money across different telephone companies and also why can’t the mobile money account function like a bank account by making it interoperable with bank accounts? The answer to these questions was the implementation of groundbreaking mobile money interoperability across all banks and telcos,” he explained.
Dr Bawumia told the participants that following the introduction of the MMI, Ghanaians now seamlessly send funds between mobile money accounts and bank accounts, regardless of the service provider. This, he said, has practically turned mobile money wallets into bank accounts, drastically improving access to financial services.
“Ghana is the first country in Africa and one of a very few in the world to achieve this type of interoperability between bank accounts and mobile wallets,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
The success of this initiative, he pointed out, has led to over 90% financial inclusion among Ghana’s adult population, placing the country at the top of Africa’s financial access rankings.
“Every adult Ghanaian can either get a traditional bank account or a mobile money account which works like a bank account,” he noted.
Ghana’s progress
Citing data trends, Dr. Bawumia revealed that Ghana has experienced a 40-fold increase in mobile money transactions between 2017 and 2024.
The country also boasts a fully interoperable multiple instant payment system and has been globally recognised for excellence in mobile money regulation.
Adding to these milestones, Dr. Bawumia said Ghana is among only four countries in the world, alongside Singapore, India, and China, to implement a universal QR Code payment system, positioning it at the forefront of global digital payment innovations.
With these achievements, the former Vice President said Ghana is firmly placed on the digital transformation map and serves as a model for other African nations aiming to expand financial inclusion and modernize their economies
Dr. Bawumia’s statement captured the audience’s attention and quickly trended on social media.
He positioned himself as a champion of Africa’s emerging digital future, urging African leaders and institutions to seize the moment.
“This is Africa’s time,” he told participants.
“We are witnessing a convergence of talent, innovation, and policy readiness that must not be squandered,” the former Vice President added.
Dr. Bawumia’s address covered Ghana’s achievements in digitization, from mobile money interoperability to digital national identity systems.
He argued that technology can help Africa leapfrog traditional development barriers.
With Ghana as a case study, he explained how technology has been used to enhance public service delivery, improve financial inclusion, and drive tax mobilization.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized that Africa’s youth, with their energy and digital fluency, are key to building sustainable economies and resilient institutions.
More collaboration
The former Vice President also took the opportunity to call for more collaboration between African governments, academia, and the private sector.
He highlighted the importance of partnerships with universities like Cambridge in driving innovation and research tailored to African needs.
“Africa must invest in the minds of its people,” he said, “and that begins with education and access to technology.”
Dr. Bawumia’s confident posture and memorable quote, “I was made for this,” signaled more than political ambition—it reflected a technocrat’s deep belief in the continent’s potential.
For many at Cambridge and beyond, it was a moment of clarity: Africa’s digital transformation has found one of its most vocal and passionate advocates.
