Stakeholders in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy, including regulators, financial institutions and financial technology (Fintech) companies, have been urged to embrace technological change.
This is to ensure that the opportunities in the Fintech space are realised to drive foreign capital investment, especially remittances into Ghana to support economic growth and create jobs for the youth.
Mr. Darryl Kwame Mawutor Abraham, the Growth Director for Africa of Taptap Send – an international remittance firm, said this in an interview at the TEDx Accra Conference in Accra organised to empower Ghanaians, especially the youth, as ‘Agents of Change’
“Let’s embrace change to help us move the country forward by moving more capital and foreign exchange into the country, embrace change so we can change the country from import-driven economy to an export-driven economy,” he charged.
On the potential of Fintech in driving capital into the Ghanaian economy, Mr. Mawutor Abraham said in 2021 alone, about US$4.5billion was moved into Ghana from Ghanaians and others in the diaspora.
“Everybody must embrace change and support the Fintech sector to increase diaspora contribution to capital investment through remittances to help move Ghana and Africa from where it is now to the place we will want it to be,” he advised.
Mr. Mawutor Abraham maintained that: “If we continue to do the same things the same way, we won’t move forward. So we learn from the past, take what we know now, improve on it, and move toward change.”
Mr. Terry Kojo Oppong, the Organiser of TEDx Accra, said the conference was to empower the youth to champion Ghana and Africa’s development, building on an earlier conference which was used as a force to unite for change.
He said: “Each one of us is an agent of change, and we are here together to galvanise , build networks and champion ideas because everything starts as an idea and develops into products and services to solve problems”.
TED Conferences, according to Mr. Oppong, were the ground-breaking of ideas, stories and philosophies shared globally to catalyse change and create lasting impact through technology, education and design.
“We want to essentially get into a place where you are able to champion the ideas and innovation which Ghana and Africa need at this critical moment of economic challenges,” he added.