The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has challenged Ghana’s technology and financial ecosystem to develop home-grown fintech solutions instead of relying heavily on imported technologies.

Speaking at the launch of a fintech initiative, the Minister said the event was a test of Ghana’s commitment to developing its own financial technology ecosystem.

“This is a test of whether Ghana is serious about building the future of finance ourselves, rather than importing it,” he said.

Samuel Nartey George said the government’s priority was to empower young Ghanaians to become creators of technology and innovative solutions to challenges confronting society.

“We want every young Ghanaian who looks at a problem to say, ‘I can build a solution,’ instead of waiting for someone else to solve it,” he said.

He noted that Ghana possesses the talent and capacity to develop globally competitive fintech companies, pointing to universities, innovation hubs and individual developers across the country as potential sources of innovation.

The Minister, however, stressed that technological innovation must be accompanied by strong consumer protection and public confidence, particularly in the financial sector.

“Where money is involved, trust is not optional; it is the product,” he said.

He therefore called for a regulatory environment that “protects without suffocating” innovation, arguing that regulations must evolve alongside technological advancements.

“Technology must serve people. We are not building technology for technology’s sake; we are building it to improve lives, expand opportunity and create prosperity,” Samuel Nartey George added.