The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhIPSS) and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Archie Hesse, were recognised at this year’s Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards (GITTA). GhIPSS received the Payment Infrastructure Leader Award, while Mr. Hesse was named Digital Payment Leader of the Year. These accolades honour the outstanding performance and contributions of GhIPSS and its CEO over the years.
GITTA, now in its 13th year, is the premier industry awards event for the ICT and Telecom sectors. It is organized in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Communications. GhIPSS and Mr. Hesse have been frequent recipients at GITTA, earning awards almost every year.
Established in 2007, GhIPSS has been at the forefront of promoting electronic payments in Ghana, significantly reducing cash transactions. This effort has also improved financial inclusion, lowering the unbanked population from 70 percent to less than 40 percent of the adult population.
GhIPSS has introduced several payment channels, with the latest being the GhanaPay Mobile Money service, a joint project with financial institutions. Other notable products include GhQR, Automated Clearing House (ACH) in various forms (Direct Credit, Direct Debit, and Direct Credit Near Real-Time), electronic cheque clearing, gh-link, GhIPSS Instant Pay, Proxy Pay, and e-zwich.
Mr. Hesse’s association with GhIPSS began as the General Manager overseeing Projects and Business Development.
His leadership and vision led to his promotion to CEO following the retirement of the first CEO. Under Mr. Hesse’s guidance, GhIPSS has undergone a remarkable transformation, working closely with banks and non-bank financial institutions to introduce the variety of electronic payment channels to the public. This collaborative effort has earned both Mr. Hesse and GhIPSS numerous national and international awards.
