Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has said the country must demonstrate its role as a “gateway to Africa” through efficient systems that enable trade and connectivity, rather than relying on reputation alone.
Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, she stressed that “a gateway is not just a title,” adding that it should be “measured by whether transactions clear, businesses connect speedily, and markets operate with certainty.”
Her remarks come amid growing efforts to position Ghana as a hub for trade and digital innovation on the continent.
The Vice-President said Ghana’s standing is built on “decades of political stability, a commitment to openness,” and its role as host of the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
However, she warned that in an evolving global economy, physical trade routes alone are no longer sufficient. “It is not only about proximity to ports… but also who builds the rails, sets the rules, and sustains confidence,” she said.
Referencing Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, she noted that the vision of African unity remains relevant, particularly in today’s digital age. “Economic sovereignty now also depends on integration, particularly digital integration,” she said.
She outlined four key pillars needed to build a truly integrated African digital economy: payments, identity, regulation and infrastructure.
On payments, she highlighted the inefficiencies of routing intra-African transactions through external systems and foreign currencies, which she said “adds costs and delays, and undermines the very idea of a single African market.”
Initiatives such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and the African Union’s digital trade protocol were cited as steps towards reducing these barriers and enabling seamless cross-border transactions.
Turning to identity, she emphasised that “no digital economy can function without trust,” pointing out that many Africans still lack reliable digital identification, limiting their participation in formal and cross-border economic activities.
On regulation, she called for greater alignment across jurisdictions, warning that fragmented rules increase costs and discourage innovation. While acknowledging that full uniformity is not required, she stressed the importance of “consistency” and coordination.
Finally, she underscored the importance of infrastructure, noting that many Africans remain offline due to high costs, limited coverage and skills gaps. She also pointed out that Africa holds only a small share of global data centre capacity, raising concerns about both performance and digital sovereignty.
Her address framed Africa’s next phase of development as one driven not just by ambition, but by systems that enable scale, trust and efficiency across borders.
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