Forex Regulation : Bank of Ghana Deploys Centralized and Mandatory Trading Platform for All Forex Bureaux!
Ghana's digital ecosystem week in review: Flutterwave Launches In Ghana, Maintain My Road App, Telecel Girl's In IT, TBD- Africa Bitcoin Conference Hackathon, MTN Records 28.4M Mobile Subscribers.....
Digital Digest No. #1000111
Date: July 25 - August 5 2024
Dear Friends,
Welcome to August. Happy new week!🎉
Here are the most important news, perspectives, analysis, and insights about the Ghanaian digital ecosystem from last week
Digital governance
News updates
Flutterwave Secures Enhanced Payment Service Provider License By Bank of Ghana
Flutterwave has received a Payment Service Provider license (Enhanced Category) from the Bank of Ghana. The Enhanced Category license allows Flutterwave to operate without third-party services, streamlining payment processes and supporting other fintech companies in Ghana. For potential customers in Ghana, Flutterwave’s license translates into direct collection and payout services, automated invoicing, payment links, and a checkout solution that supports multiple payment methods including cards, mobile money, and bank transfers
Bank Of Ghana Mandates Centralised Forex Platform To Regulate Operations
The Bank of Ghana (BOG) has launched a centralized online foreign exchange trading platform, mandatory for all licensed Foreign Exchange Bureaux starting August 1, 2024. This platform aims to enhance oversight, monitoring, and compliance with the Foreign Exchange Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act. The platform will integrate with the national payment system, supporting electronic payments and issuing receipts for transactions, connect with the National Identification System, requiring biometric verification using a Ghana Card or Passport for transactions amongst other measures.
Ghana Digitalises Road Defect Reporting, Launches Mobile App
The Ministry of Roads and Highways in Ghana has launched "Maintain My Road," a mobile app for reporting road defects. The app, available on the App Store and Google Play, lets users upload pictures and descriptions of defects with GPS tagging. The ministry says this initiative is to improve routine road maintenance and address issues like potholes, road defects, and urban congestion. The program will be piloted for five months, focusing on major roads and urban centres- Accra-Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale
Digital infrastructure and platforms
News updates
MTN Ghana Records 28.4 Million Mobile Subscribers in H1 2024 Performance
MTN Ghana has reported impressive growth numbers in most of its metrics in its 2024 half-year performance report. This includes a 3.9 percent growth in mobile subscribers, pushing its total subscriber numbers to 28.4 million and increase in its active data subscribers, boosting its total subscribers to 16.4 million, a 15.9% growth from the previous year.
Razorlabs Introduces Openprop, Ghana’s 1st Property Rental Platform with Virtual Tour
Razorlabs has launched Openprop, Ghana’s first property rental platform designed to connect renters and landlords and offer renters detailed property information including virtual tours, allowing potential renters to explore properties from their homes, giving them a clear view of each property’s layout and features and saving them the hassle of Agent commission and viewing fees.
Digital finance
News updates
Block’s TBD Announces Hackathon Competition to Address Gaps in Payment Systems Across Africa
Block’s TBD is calling on developers, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all over Africa to participate in the TBD- Africa Bitcoin Conference Hackathon, an up to $15,000 in BTC competition designed to address issues in payment systems across Africa using the tbDEX open source protocol. The submission period for this hackathon is 31 July 2024 to 15 September 2024
Digital entrepreneurship
News updates
Ghana Among Top Emerging Markets Ready For AI Adoption - IMF Report
The IMF has released its AI Preparedness Index (AIPI), a 0 to 1 scale which maps the world's readiness for AI and evaluates the level of AI preparedness in 174 countries (grouped into 32 advanced economies, 56 emerging market economies, and 37 low-income countries). The AIPI Dashboard tracks these economies based on their digital infrastructure, human capital, labour policies, innovation, integration, and regulation.
Ghana, with a score of 0.43, placed third on the list of emerging market economies behind Kenya (0.45) and Rwanda (0.44).
Digital talents
News updates
Telecel Ghana Empowers 100 Girls With Tech And ICT Skills
Telecel Ghana hosted over 100 girls from Northern, Eastern, and Savannah regions for it’ annual Girls in ICT Open Day. The event, part of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation's Girls in ICT Open Day, aimed to inspire these girls to pursue careers in technology and become leaders in the digital age. Participants received training in data analytics, robotics, cybersecurity, networks, and digital transformation, with mentorship from Women in Technology at Telecel Ghana.
GHANA TECH ECOSYSTEM SURVEY
Code and Cocktails Africa recently launched a survey to map out the Ghana Tech Ecosystem with a focus on tech professionals. The survey covers demographics, tools, working conditions, and remuneration.
The survey focuses on 3 areas;
1. Engineering
2. Product
3. Sales & Marketing
Kindly take some 5 minutes of your time to complete the survey if work in the 3 areas fore mentioned. Tap here. Thanks!
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Cheers! 🍻