A Zambian delegation comprising representatives in the financial sector, telecommunication companies and government are in Ghana on a one week study tour of Ghana’s digital economy success.
The study tour that has been sponsored by the United Nations Capital Development in Zambia is composed of representatives of the Financial Regulator – Bank of Zambia, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Energy and Water Development, MTN Zambia, Airtel Zambia, Zamtel, ZANACO, FINCA Zambia, PROBASE and Payments Association of Zambia.
This came to light when the delegation paid a courtesy call on the High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Mr. Richard Mwanza.
The study tour will focus on how Ghana’s digital financial services providers and utilities providers such as water and electricity companies have successfully rolled out digitalized payments for utilities that have transformed Ghana’s economic landscape.
The delegation will learn best practices through a series of meetings that have been arranged with key partners within the Ghanaian digital economy and government Ministries, agencies and the private sector.
The study tour is aimed at developing a more inclusive digital economy through reaching Zambia’s poorest population by leveraging digital technologies, mainly payments in the utilities and other services.
Ghana is one of the countries that accounts for much of the Fintech business in Africa and has been recognised by the World Bank as the fastest growing Mobile Money market in Africa in the past 5 years. Transactions via mobile money wallets and phones account for 82% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product.
This study tour will therefore, offer the Zambian delegation the opportunity to learn best practices and how to avoid the challenges in the digital financial space.
The delegation took note of the importance of forging linkages and that it would form partnerships in Ghana in order for the digital technology solutions and investments to flow into Zambia.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner Mwanza assured the delegation of the Mission’s support in their endeavour to bring the digital financial technology to Zambia and urged the delegation to ensure that financial inclusion reached everyone in Zambia especially the women and youths in remote areas of Zambia.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by First Secretary – Economic and Trade
Zambia High Commission – Accra, Ghana Hellen Zulu Masongo