Ghana emerges as regional leader in digital payments and connectivity, DCO latest report shows

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Ghana is now one of West Africa’s fastest-advancing digital economies, according to the Digital Economy Navigator 2025 (DEN 2025) launched by the Digital Cooperation Organization at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The new global assessment highlights Ghana’s growth in mobile payments, broadband reach, and pro-innovation policy as drivers positioning the country as a digital commerce hub in the sub-region.

The DEN 2025 covers 80 economies representing 94 percent of global GDP and provides a comprehensive measurement of digital economy maturity across infrastructure, innovation, governance, business capacity, and inclusion. DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya said the new data shows progress across income levels but urged stakeholders to translate momentum into faster transformation through collaborative action.

Ghana recorded the highest jump in 4G coverage among all countries measured, increasing by 46.7% as operators expanded network deployment supported by policy reforms. Mobile payments and interoperability also advanced, with mobile money transactions climbing by 51.8% in 2024 and wider adoption of real-time banking and POS usage.

The report notes that Ghana’s collaboration between government and industry has supported new digital services, skills training, and enterprise development, strengthening the foundation for financial inclusion and innovation-led growth.

DEN 2025 findings show that more than four in five people in assessed countries now have internet access and that connecting underserved communities could unlock access to digital banking and services for more than 1.3 billion people globally. The report also highlights emerging opportunities in AI and sustainability technologies where developing economies can accelerate progress.

The DCO is encouraging governments, private sector actors, and development institutions to leverage the DEN 2025 insights to shape responsive policies and drive coordinated investment. Ghana’s performance reflects how targeted policy reform, competition, infrastructure expansion, and fintech inclusion can deliver measurable gains in the digital economy.