STORY: Ghanaian president urges Africa to boost fintech, digital economy for transformation
SHOOTING TIME: May 13-14, 2024
DATELINE: May 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:53
LOCATION: Accra
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the conference hall (general view)
2. various of conference participants and the exhibition
3. various shots of Tema port and harbor (file)
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, Ghanaian President
5. various of conference participants and the exhibition
6. various of the AfCFTA secretariat (file)
7. various of the Accra central business district (file)
8. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WAMKELE MENE, Secretary-general of AfCFTA Secretariat

STORYLINE:

On Monday, Ghanaian president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo opened the 3i Africa Summit in his country's capital of Accra. Akufo-Addo urged African countries to develop the digital economy and financial technology (fintech) to accelerate the pace of transformation.

The three-day summit, themed "Unleashing Africa's Fintech and Digital Economic Potential," aims to use policy and technology to create greater momentum and traction for Africa's digital finance agenda.

Akufo-Addo implored African countries to make digital infrastructure the backbone of prosperity for their people. The president said that Africa should embrace the technologies that are reshaping the global economy, while tailoring them to the continent's needs and challenges.

Akufo-Addo said a strong fintech and digital innovation landscape would help Africans fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He added that since the AfCFTA has the potential to disrupt the continent's economic landscape and bring about transformation, African countries must embrace digitization and fintech to drive that transformation.

Through public-private partnerships and cross-border cooperation, a seamless and efficient fintech ecosystem can be created to support a fully integrated African economy, said the Ghanaian president.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, Ghanaian President
"By working together, we can unlock the vast potential of our continent and create a rising tide that lifts all boats from the smallest village to the largest metropolis. Ghana has emerged as a good example of what is possible when we embrace digital transformation."

Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said in his speech that digital inclusion is crucial for leveraging the vast market potential represented by Africa's population of 1.4 billion.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WAMKELE MENE, Secretary-general of AfCFTA Secretariat
"But if we don't deploy these digital technologies that all of us are going to be discussing today and tomorrow, I don't know that we will reach that objective."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Accra.
(XHTV)