Mobile Financial Services Manager for Telecel Ghana, Judith Adumua-Bossman, has called for collective action on the implementation of cross-border mobile money interoperability to accelerate business and trade across the continent.

She stated the need for telcos, banks and FinTech firms to work collaboratively and take concrete steps towards cross-border mobile money transactions.

Mrs Adumua-Bossman said this while delivering a thought-provoking speech on the readiness of telcos for cross-border interoperability at the Africa Prosperity Network’s Symposium on ‘Scaling Up Interoperability: Using Mobile Money to Buy & Sell Across Africa.'

“The next step in mobile money interoperability is to facilitate seamless and convenient cross-border transactions for our customers who are demanding this service to increase and expand their trade and businesses,” she said.

The symposium convened key players in the finance, trade, and governance sectors to discuss the critical role of mobile money interoperability in unlocking Africa's economic potential.

Mrs Adumua-Bossman argued that the current challenges facing mobile money interoperability including fraud incidents and reversal resolution can be tackled with more security controls on authentication, an increase in customer education and a faster standardised complaint resolution timeframe to help strengthen the rollout of cross-border payments across the continent.

"The potential benefits of interoperability across borders in Africa are too significant to ignore. It’s about time we worked collaboratively with regulators and financial institutions across Africa to develop harmonised frameworks and protocols that enable seamless cross-border transactions,” she said.

Mrs Adumua-Bossman reiterated Telecel Ghana's commitment to interoperability, citing ongoing discussions with regional partners and participation in industry-wide initiatives focused on cross-border payments to help promote trade for customers.

The remarks resonated with experts and speakers at the symposium, many of whom agreed that cross-border interoperability has the potential to significantly boost intra-African trade, empower small and medium-sized businesses, and accelerate financial inclusion across the continent.

Mrs Adumua-Bossman concluded her remarks with a call to action for more investment into partnerships to make mobile money interoperability on the continent the next goal for the financial sector.

“Cross-border mobile money interoperability is a necessity for Africa's economic growth. We need to invest in the right partnerships and collaborations, along with the needed regulatory support, to enable seamless transactions across Africa," she added.

The Africa Prosperity Network’s Symposium, which was supported by Telecel Ghana, has set the stage for a crucial regional conversation on interoperable financial solutions that will pave the way for a more integrated and financially inclusive future for Africa.