The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, will this week lead a delegation of senior officials to the 2025 Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum. The AFI Summit, the world’s largest gathering of central bankers, regulators, and policymakers on financial inclusion, comes at a time when the Global Findex 2025 report has highlighted Ghana’s rapid strides in expanding access to financial services. According to the new data, 80 per cent of adults in Ghana owned a financial account in 2024, up from 68 per cent in 2021.

“This remarkable progress is a reflection of the Bank of Ghana’s deliberate reforms and our embrace of technology to deepen financial inclusion,” Mrs. Asante-Asiedu said ahead of the forum. “We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to build a financial system that is accessible, affordable, and secure for every Ghanaian.”

The Global Findex 2025 report, released by the World Bank, is the most comprehensive database on digital and financial inclusion worldwide. It draws on surveys of about 145,000 adults in 141 economies and, for the first time, incorporates a Digital Connectivity Tracker to examine the links between mobile phone ownership, internet access, and financial inclusion.

Analysts say Ghana’s rise in the rankings underscores the impact of mobile technology and digital innovation on financial access. “From mobile money to fintech solutions, Ghana has become one of Africa’s leaders in digital finance,” a source familiar with the report noted.

The Deputy Governor is expected to use Ghana’s example to call for greater collaboration among regulators, policymakers, and private sector players to ensure financial inclusion keeps pace with digital transformation.

“The gains we have made are encouraging, but we must ensure they translate into real opportunities for individuals and businesses. Financial inclusion is not just about numbers; it is about improving lives,” Mrs. Asante-Asiedu added.

The AFI 2025 Summit will convene hundreds of policymakers and industry leaders to explore strategies for closing the global financial inclusion gap, with Ghana set to share its lessons and experience as one of Africa’s fastest movers in digital finance.