Equipe Publication
Mastercard Opens First Office in Ghana to Strengthen West Africa Presence
Africa is experiencing a rapid shift toward digital payments, fueled by increased smartphone penetration and internet usage. Mastercard’s expertise in secure and scalable payment systems can complement and enhance these existing platforms.
Mastercard has opened its first office in Accra, Ghana, a key step in its West Africa expansion. This move, announced yesterday January 13, reflects its commitment to supporting Ghana’s digital economy through innovative financial products and services tailored to the local market.
“Opening our office in Ghana marks an important milestone in our commitment to deepening relationships across the region. Our growth strategy for West Africa is ambitious, and establishing a formal presence here allows us to better serve the specific needs of our customers,” said Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa at Mastercard.
The new office underscores Mastercard’s dedication to fostering stakeholder relationships and promoting inclusive growth. By establishing a presence in Ghana, Mastercard aims to enhance collaborations and accelerate the adoption of tailored financial solutions.
Beyond the office, Mastercard has collaborated with companies like Kalabash, KaiOS, Boost, and Smile ID, and partnered with banks such as Access Bank and Fidelity Bank to improve cross-border payment solutions. These efforts have empowered fintechs, expanded digital access for underserved communities, and strengthened Ghana’s position as a tech hub.
Mastercard’s office in Accra is a strategic response to the growing demand for secure, efficient, and inclusive financial solutions in Ghana and West Africa. By leveraging its global expertise and fostering local partnerships, Mastercard is set to play a pivotal role in transforming Ghana’s financial landscape and contributing to the region’s digital future.
The 2021 Financial Services Demand-Side Survey Report by the Ministry of Finance reveals that Ghana has achieved a remarkable 96% financial inclusion, leaving only 4% of the population without access to financial services. This significant progress is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of mobile money nationwide. It underscores the growing digitalization of Ghana's economy, creating opportunities for fintech innovation, e-commerce, and digital payments.
Ghana’s near-universal financial inclusion and thriving digital economy make it an ideal launchpad for Mastercard’s broader West African strategy. This milestone demonstrates the country’s leadership in financial inclusion within the region and its readiness to leverage digital solutions to drive economic development.
With offices across Africa, including in Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi, Mastercard’s expansion into Accra reinforces its commitment to building a sustainable digital economy across the continent.
Hikmatu Bilali
Nairobi to Host AI Kenya Breakfast Summit 2025
Nairobi will host the AI Kenya Breakfast Summit 2025 on January 29 at Mövenpick Hotel from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The event, themed “Transformative AI From Efficiency Gains to Strategic Advantage,” will explore AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and provide strategic benefits for businesses in East Africa.
Topics will cover AI adoption in East Africa, partnerships to unlock AI’s potential, and using AI for efficiency and strategy. Attendees can network with leaders, explore partnerships, and gain actionable insights to drive AI-led innovation in 2025.
Mohamed Louati Offers Digital Solutions to Industrial Companies
As an entrepreneur and expert in digital transformation, he is committed to developing innovative solutions to optimize the management of companies in the industrial sector.
Mohamed Louati (photo) is a Tunisian data analysis expert and tech entrepreneur, serving as the co-founder and CEO of Logimes, a technology company that specializes in solutions for the industrial sector.
Founded in 2021, Logimes is a digital services startup that assists industrial companies in implementing production management systems for their workshops. The company enables real-time tracking of work-in-progress, evaluation of operator performance, and measurement of overall production efficiency.
"Our goal is to be the strategic partner that guides the transition to advanced production management systems, improving operational efficiency and competitiveness in the era of Industry 4.0. By leveraging innovation, commitment, excellence, and collaboration, our mission is to deliver customized solutions and drive our clients’ success for a more efficient and sustainable future," states the company’s website.
Among Logimes' offerings are Fastuz, a learning platform designed to provide practical training tailored to labor market needs, helping learners succeed in their careers, and DAS ERP, a comprehensive enterprise resource planning solution.
Mohamed Louati holds an engineering degree in statistics and information analysis, with a focus on data analysis, which he earned in 2004 from the Higher School of Statistics and Information Analysis. He also obtained a master’s degree in economic modeling and econometrics in 2005 from Tunisia Polytechnic School.
His professional career began in 2004 at Karmex, an industrial company, where he worked as an analyst and administrator of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. In 2011, he joined Logidas, an ERP solutions provider, where he advanced through various roles including business developer, operations director, and eventually co-CEO.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Nigeria: Galaxy Backbone Expands Fibre Optic Network to Lagos, Ibadan, and Ilorin
The expansion of fibre optic network in Africa is a critical development in the journey toward digital transformation. This achievement supports key objectives, including bridging the digital divide, fostering economic growth, and strengthening the continent’s position in the global digital economy.
Technology services provider of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), has successfully deployed its cutting-edge fibre optic network in Lagos, Ibadan, and Ilorin, it announced on December 16. This marks a major milestone in Phase II of the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) project. The expansion reflects GBB's commitment to enhancing Nigeria's digital connectivity and accelerating its transformation into a digitally inclusive nation.
Prof. Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, hailed the achievement, stating: "The expansion of our fibre optic network to Lagos, Ibadan, and Ilorin is a significant step in bridging the digital divide and positioning Nigeria as a global leader in the digital economy. This infrastructure empowers us to deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions for both the public and private sectors."
With an extensive cross-country optical fibre backbone now spanning over 5,000 kilometers across 27 state capitals, GBB continues to solidify its role as Nigeria’s digital backbone. The project integrates the nation’s six geopolitical zones, enhancing digital inclusion and fostering economic growth.
The newly completed Abuja-to-Lagos route, which connects key cities such as Minna, Bida, Mokwa, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibadan, and Lagos, is a strategic development designed to bolster network reliability. This closed-loop network ensures service redundancy and reduces potential downtime, offering users a seamless, world-class digital experience.
The fibre optic network enhances high-speed, secure connectivity for government institutions and businesses, empowering them to thrive in an increasingly digital world. With this deployment, GBB reinforces its commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and its vision of a digitally inclusive society.
As Galaxy Backbone (GBB) extends its network, it reinforces its position as a key partner in driving Nigeria's digital economy, fostering innovation, and enabling sustainable development. This initiative aligns with GBB’s vision of building a smarter government, which will pave the way for smart communities, cities, and a more technology-driven nation. It also marks a significant step towards fulfilling its mandate of operating a nationwide IP-based network to provide a unified platform for connectivity and infrastructure services for all Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The expansion aligns with Nigeria's National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 which aims to increase broadband penetration to 90% by 2025, a goal supported by GBB’s ongoing projects.
Hikmatu Bilali
Brij Technologies Launches BrijX Platform to Transform Intra-African Trade
Brij Technologies Inc. unveiled the BrijX Currency Swap B2B Digital Platform on Tuesday November 19. This will enable real-time mobile money currency swaps between Ghanaian Cedi and Nigerian Naira without traditional foreign exchange intermediation.
Supported by the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and licensed by the Bank of Ghana, BrijX is undergoing final integration with Mobile Money Limited Ghana and G-Money Financial Services. The platform is expected to go live before Christmas 2024.
Report Unveils Top 5 Digitally Advanced African Parliaments
African parliaments are increasingly turning to digital technologies to improve efficiency. However, the digital divide remains a significant challenge, hindering progress in many regions.
South Africa (8 out of 10), Zimbabwe (8), Burundi's Senate (7), Morocco (7), and Mauritius (7) lead the continent in digital maturity among African parliaments, according to a new report published in October 2024 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organization of sovereign state parliaments. The report is based on responses from 115 parliaments or chambers across 86 countries, as well as from supranational parliamentary organizations.
Titled the "World e-Parliament Report 2024," the report offers a comprehensive analysis of digital technology use in parliaments worldwide through a digital maturity index, an innovative benchmarking tool. This index assesses parliaments across six key areas: governance, digital strategy and management; infrastructure; parliamentary systems; user support; digital content and publications; and citizen engagement.
“The purpose of benchmarking is not to create a league table of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ parliaments. Rather, it supports strategic decision-making on the use of digital technologies by highlighting the factors that can affect maturity,” the IPU stresses.
In addition to the leaders, Tunisia (6), Burundi's National Assembly (5), and Malawi (5) stand out with scores of 5 or higher. However, sub-Saharan Africa remains underrepresented among the top performers. According to the IPU, 50% of parliaments in the region rank among the 30 least digitally mature institutions, a situation attributed to a lack of modernization initiatives, insufficient investment in new digital systems, and an absence of ambitious digital transformation programs.
Distribution of parliaments by region for each decile ranking
At the bottom of the index, parliaments in countries like Djibouti, Lesotho, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic scored an average of 1 out of 10, reflecting significant gaps in digital adoption.
To address these gaps, the report recommends that institutions and governments develop clear strategic visions and comprehensive digital strategies; allocate adequate financial, human, and technological resources; establish robust governance frameworks; invest in capacity building; prioritize citizen participation; and strengthen inter-parliamentary collaboration.
Additionally, generative artificial intelligence is highlighted as a strategic lever to accelerate parliamentary digital transformation, offering the potential to deliver valuable insights and enhance the accessibility of parliamentary processes.
Samira Njoya
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Le Ghana lance une initiative pour former plus de 5000 jeunes au numérique
Le gouvernement ghanéen multiplie les initiatives pour combler le fossé de compétences numériques dans le pays. L’exécutif a récemment révélé qu'il prévoyait de lancer un fonds de 5 millions $ pour promouvoir l’innovation technologique.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (photo à gauche), ministre de la Communication et de la Numérisation, a lancé la semaine dernière le programme « eSkills4Jobs » qui vise à doter plus de 5000 jeunes Ghanéens de compétences numériques essentielles. Ledit programme met l’accent sur les femmes issues de communautés marginalisées et les personnes en situation de handicap. Il est le fruit d’un partenariat entre le gouvernement, la Banque mondiale et le Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.
« L’économie numérique est là pour rester, et nous devons nous assurer que personne n’est laissé pour compte. eSkills4Jobs mettra l’accent sur la mise en place de programmes de formation adaptés, de mentorats et de l’accès aux ressources pour permettre aux participants de développer des compétences pertinentes », a déclaré Mme Owusu-Ekuful.
Cette initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’objectif du gouvernement ghanéen de former 1 million de jeunes aux compétences numériques de répondre à la demande de main-d’œuvre qualifiée dans un contexte de transformation numérique. Selon la Société financière internationale (SFI), 20 % des entreprises ghanéennes ne recrutent qu’à l’étranger pour les compétences numériques, principalement parce qu’elles ne trouvent pas de talents locaux qualifiés. La Banque mondiale estime qu’environ 625 millions d’Africains auront besoin de compétences numériques d’ici 2030.
Le gouvernement ghanéen estime que les compétences acquises à travers l’initiative « eSkills4Jobs » amélioreront non seulement l’employabilité individuelle, mais contribueront également à la croissance globale de l’économie ghanéenne. Des données de la Banque mondiale datant de 2022 montrent que 3,1 % de la population active ghanéenne est au chômage.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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Ghana : un fonds de 5 millions $ pour promouvoir l’innovation technologique
Darlington Akogo Automates Medical Diagnostics
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, both in Africa and across the rest of the world. In Ghana, a young entrepreneur is harnessing this technology to benefit the healthcare sector.
Darlington Akogo (photo) is a Ghanaian artificial intelligence (AI) expert and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, a tech startup that is using AI to revolutionize the healthcare sector in Africa.
Founded in 2017, minoHealth AI Labs is a pioneering company in the application of AI to healthcare. It helps medical institutions provide quality care at affordable costs by automating medical diagnostics, prognostics, and predictions using AI, data science, and biomedicine.
In the field of radiology, minoHealth AI Labs has developed AI systems capable of automatically diagnosing 14 thoracic conditions, including pneumonia, fibrosis, hernia, and pleural effusion. The system also aids in breast cancer detection through mammography.
The startup has also developed AI solutions to combat malaria, facilitate COVID-19 screening, and identify damage caused by tuberculosis. Moreover, it applies AI to other fields such as biotechnology, oncology, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, optometry, epidemiology, and dietetics.
Darlington Akogo is also the CEO of karaAgro AI, a company he founded in 2018 that offers precision agriculture solutions to help farmers increase yields and reduce crop stress. In 2019, he established the Runmila AI Institute, which he leads as Executive Director, to train Ghanaians and Africans in artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Akogo chairs TG-AI4Radiology, a think tank of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO). He also leads AI Economy, a group working to define a continental AI strategy within the African Union.
From 2019 to 2020, Darlington Akogo served as an AI and Industry 4.0 expert for the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). He later co-chaired the global strategic group on digital health and AI, created by the University of Oxford.
Melchior Koba
Kaspersky s’allie à une université tunisienne pour former en cybersécurité
L’accélération de la transformation numérique en Afrique a engendré un besoin croissant en professionnels de la cybersécurité. Selon le Forum économique mondial, la pénurie mondiale de talents sur ce segment pourrait atteindre 85 millions de travailleurs d'ici 2030.
Le fournisseur russe de services de cybersécurité, Kaspersky, s’est associé la semaine dernière à l’EPI Sup de Sousse, une université privée tunisienne. L’objectif est de former une nouvelle génération d’experts en cybersécurité, de favoriser l’innovation et de renforcer l’écosystème de la cybersécurité en Tunisie.
Ce partenariat intervient dans un contexte marqué par le nombre important d’incidents informatiques dans le pays. En 2023, le TunCERT, l'équipe nationale de réponse aux urgences informatiques en Tunisie, a enregistré près de 150 000 incidents touchant le cyberespace national. Parmi eux, 46 % étaient dus à des attaques d’hameçonnage, tandis que 17 % impliquaient des logiciels malveillants.
Selon l’Union internationale des télécommunications (UIT), la Tunisie a obtenu un score de 82 sur 100 en 2024 à l’indice de cybersécurité. Le pays se positionne dans la catégorie Tier 3, ce qui montre qu’il fait « preuve d'un engagement de base en matière de cybersécurité à l'égard d'actions menées par les pouvoirs publics ». Cependant, ce score est en recul par rapport à 2020 où la Tunisie a totalisé 86,23, ce qui le positionnait parmi les places fortes du continent.
Pour la firme russe, ce partenariat pourra permettre d’identifier de futurs talents ou encore de contribuer au développement de la communauté de cybersécurité. Selon le Cadre stratégique des talents en cybersécurité du Forum économique mondial, il y a un besoin urgent en 2024 de près de 4 millions de professionnels pour combler le déficit de talents avec une demande croissante de compétences en matière de sécurité en cloud informatique, en intelligence artificielle et en machine learning dans le secteur cybernétique.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Cybersécurité : 4 recommandations de Kaspersky pour se protéger sur mobile
Zachariah George, Launch Africa Ventures
Cofondateur et associé directeur de Launch Africa Ventures, il est à la tête de la première société panafricaine de capital-risque d’Afrique en matière de nombre de financement accordé aux Startup au cours du premier semestre 2024. A travers le second fonds de démarrage piloté par l’entreprise, d’un montant de 100 millions $, c’est un total de onze transactions financières qu’il a réussi. Zachariah George est également cofondateur et directeur des investissements de l’accélérateur Startupbootcamp AfriTech.