Africa must move from digital consumer to creator – Promak CEO
Africa must move beyond being a consumer of digital technologies and position itself as a creator in the global digital revolution to drive economic growth, financial inclusion and job creation, the Chief Executive Officer of Promak, Mr Peter Frimpong-Manso, has said. He said responsible innovation, effective regulation, increased investment and stronger data systems were critical … The post…
Africa must transition from simply consuming digital technologies to becoming a creator in the global digital revolution, according to Promak CEO Peter Frimpong-Manso. Responsible innovation, effective regulation, increased investment and robust data systems are essential for Africa to reap sustainable economic benefits from digital transformation, he emphasized.
Speaking at the opening of the Digital Assets Summit Africa (DASA) 2026 in Accra, Frimpong-Manso highlighted blockchain, stablecoins, tokenisation and digital infrastructure as key enablers for expanding financial inclusion, unlocking investment opportunities and creating jobs across the continent. He called for collaboration between regulators, policymakers, financial institutions, technology companies, investors, academics and young people to build a trusted digital ecosystem that can transform Africa's economic fortunes.
Philip Kwaw Sebvabe, Head of the Virtual Assets Department at the Bank of Ghana, cautioned that innovation thrives on public trust, while trust cannot be sustained without clear and effective rules. Ghana is already part of a growing market involving millions of people and significant financial flows, and the implementation of its legal and regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers is crucial.
Sebvabe stressed that participation in a regulatory sandbox should not be mistaken for market-wide authorization, and urged industry players to prioritize consumer protection in their products, while regulators must provide clarity and coordination. He also emphasized the need for educators and the media to distinguish genuine innovation from speculation and scams.
With reliable and integrated data systems being equally critical to Africa's transformation, UNECA Director Professor Samuel Kwabina stressed the importance of upgrading outdated population census data. A continent-wide microdata architecture linking various information systems could provide comprehensive and usable development data, enabling better public-sector accountability and informed decision-making.
Written by urgent.news from Ghanaian Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
