UBA champions Fintech partnerships to accelerate innovation and financial inclusion across Africa

UBA Ghana has successfully hosted the maiden edition of the UBA Fintech Conference 2026, bringing together fintech innovators, financial institutions, investors, technology providers, and industry leaders to explore the future of financial services under the theme “Banking Beyond Borders: Driving Innovation Through Fintech Partnerships.”

The conference held at the Marriott Hotel served as a platform for dialogue on the opportunities, challenges, and partnerships required to accelerate digital transformation, financial inclusion, and cross-border trade across Africa.

Opening the conference, Mrs. Linda Naa Dzama Quaynor, Board Member and Chair of the Cyber and Information Security committee of the UBA Ghana Board, emphasized that the future of financial services will be driven by collaboration rather than competition.

She noted that the relationship between banks and fintechs has evolved significantly, creating opportunities for both sectors to leverage their complementary strengths to deliver innovative, scalable, and inclusive financial solutions.

Mrs. Quaynor also underscored the significance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing the need for seamless cross-border payment infrastructure to unlock the continent’s full economic potential.

She highlighted UBA’s unique position as Africa’s Global Bank, with operations in 20 African countries and key international financial centres, providing the scale and infrastructure needed to support fintech innovation across borders.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Gbadebo Adenrele, Managing Director, Investment Banking at United Capital Plc, highlighted the transformative role fintech partnerships will play in shaping Africa’s financial future.

Speaking on the conference theme, Dr. Adenrele noted that the future of financial services will not be built by individual institutions working independently but through collaborative ecosystems that combine technology, capital, infrastructure, and innovation.

He further highlighted financial inclusion as one of fintech’s most significant achievements, noting the role of mobile money, digital payments, embedded finance, and digital banking in expanding access to financial services across the continent.

He called for continued investments in digital infrastructure, supportive regulation, and strategic partnerships to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation journey.

Mr. Bernard Gyebi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Ghana, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to driving innovation through collaboration.

He emphasized that Africa stands at a defining moment in its economic evolution, with the continent’s fintech sector projected to exceed US$65 billion by 2030. According to him, the future of banking will be shaped by partnerships, innovation, and ecosystem development.

He noted that UBA has positioned itself as an enabler of fintech innovation through initiatives such as Banking-as-a-Service, Open APIs, AI-powered digital banking solutions, cross-border payment platforms, and financial inclusion programmes that extend services to underserved communities.

“The future of financial services in Africa will be built through partnerships, not silos. Banks, fintechs, regulators and technology providers must work together to create solutions that are secure, scalable and impactful,” Mr. Gyebi stated.

Emmanuel O. Lamptey, Executive Director, Digital Banking at UBA Plc, highlighted the rapid growth of e-commerce and the emergence of agentic commerce as key trends shaping the future of digital finance in Africa.

He emphasised the opportunities for collaboration between banks and fintechs, particularly in developing digital platforms that support government revenue collection, including taxes, permits, and other payments for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He also noted that the Bank of Ghana’s push for Open Banking is creating a more connected financial ecosystem that will accelerate innovation, competition, and financial inclusion.

Mr. Lamptey explained that UBA’s digital banking strategy is anchored on three strategic pillars: Client Centricity, Growth & Innovation, and Revenue Growth & Profitability. He noted that these pillars are supported by strong risk and compliance frameworks, technology-driven innovation, speed of execution, and talent development.

He further highlighted UBA’s extensive African footprint, scale, technological capabilities, and strong financial performance as key advantages that make the Bank an ideal partner for fintechs seeking to expand their reach and deliver innovative digital solutions across the continent.

A key highlight of the conference was a panel discussion moderated by Kojo Akoto Boateng and featuring industry experts Ebo Richardson, CEO of G-Money, Curtis Vanderpuije, CEO, Express Pay and Felix Darko, CEO, PayStack.

The panel explored the evolving relationship between banks and fintech companies and emphasised the importance of collaboration in delivering customer-centric solutions.

Discussions focused on the role of efficient payment infrastructure in supporting digital commerce, the opportunities presented by open banking and API-driven innovation, the growing influence of artificial intelligence and data analytics, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to maintain trust in digital financial services.

Panelists agreed that innovation, regulation, security, and partnerships must evolve together if Africa is to unlock the full potential of digital finance and drive sustainable economic growth.

Providing the regulator’s perspective, Mr. Elhanan Owuraku Asare, Head of Fintech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, reiterated the central bank’s commitment to supporting innovation while safeguarding consumer interests and financial system stability.

He emphasised that fintech innovation does not occur in isolation but within a broader technology ecosystem, and highlighted the Bank of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to develop regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation while strengthening consumer protection and data security.

He also noted that cybersecurity has become a board-level priority across the financial sector and called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to address emerging cyber threats.

The conference concluded with a strong consensus that the future of Africa’s financial services industry will be defined by collaboration, innovation, trust, and shared value creation. Participants highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between financial institutions, fintechs, regulators, investors, and technology providers to build a more inclusive, secure, and interconnected financial ecosystem.

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