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How Frictionless Payments Are Helping Ghana’s SMEs Grow

By
Daniel Jeddman
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Ghana has one of the most successful consumer payment stories in Africa and one of its least-told business ones. As digital transactions continue to surge, the next opportunity is helping small and medium-sized enterprises turn payment access into sustainable business growth.

Bank of Ghana data shows that in June 2026 alone, Ghanaians made 954 million mobile-money transactions worth GH¢492.9 billion, up from GH¢323.2 billion in the same month a year earlier. Yet only 37% of Ghanaian businesses accept or use digital payments at all, according to a 2024 census of 1.9 million businesses by the Ghana Statistical Service, ISSER and ReFinD. The rails are built. The question now is what businesses can do with them.

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How Frictionless Payments Are Helping Ghana’s SMEs Grow 2

That gap is not just about adoption. The 2024 census found that where businesses do take digital payments, the use of a proper merchant account is associated with stronger revenue growth, higher employment and greater formalization.

That distinction matters. Bank of Ghana puts Ghana at 26 million active mobile-money accounts and 546,000 active agents. The opportunity is therefore no longer simply to increase payment adoption. It is to close the distance between a consumer rail that works and merchant acceptance that has not kept pace. It is about making digital payments more useful to the businesses using them.

When payment becomes part of the customer experience

For Ghanaian SMEs, commerce increasingly happens across multiple channels. A customer might discover a business through social media, place an order digitally and expect to complete the payment without switching platforms or navigating unnecessary steps. Frictionless acceptance helps businesses meet customers where they already are.

But payment availability alone is not enough. The technology needs to reflect how small businesses actually operate, including businesses that rely on mobile money, e-commerce, social commerce and international customers.

It also has to answer the two objections Ghanaian merchants actually raise: what acceptance costs them, and whether it is safe. The ReFinD census named fraud concerns and uncertain returns among the principal barriers to adoption, alongside knowledge gaps. Those are the questions the industry has to address.

Mastercard’s collaboration with DPO Group illustrates the response. Through this collaboration, Ghanaian businesses can accept multiple digital payment methods, including mobile money and e-wallets, from customers locally and internationally, through a single platform, with fraud protection, chargeback support and training on managing digital payments included.

That is what makes acceptance more than a checkout function. It becomes part of the infrastructure that enables a business to reach customers beyond its immediate physical location.

From getting paid to growing the business

A digital payment creates a useful record of business activity, which makes it easier to reconcile sales and manage revenue and, over time, builds the transaction history a lender can price. When that payment infrastructure connects to other financial services, it creates pathways to working capital, insurance and other tools that can strengthen a business.

Mastercard’s collaboration with Boost, launched in 2024 across six African markets, combines digital payment wallets with embedded supply-chain finance for distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

The model is important because many SMEs do not experience payment, financing and business management as separate needs. Purchasing inventory, receiving customer payments, managing cash flow and accessing financing are part of the same operating cycle, and digital infrastructure is increasingly able to bring those functions together.

Making digital payments work for Ghanaian businesses

Ghana’s opportunity is not simply to digitize more payments. It is to make digital payment infrastructure more useful to the businesses that depend on it. That means supporting merchants that sell through physical locations and digital channels, accept mobile money and cards, serve domestic customers and increasingly participate in cross-border commerce.

In 2025, Mastercard opened its first office in Accra, and its work in the market has focused on both ends of that gap: acceptance and trust. Collaborations with Kalabash, Boost, Smile ID and Access Bank provide low-cost acceptance tools to Ghanaian businesses, while the Mastercard Fintech Forum and Fraud and Cyber Resilience Forum take on the security question directly.

The objective is an ecosystem in which digital payments can support more than the transaction itself, connecting businesses to customers, financial services and opportunities to grow.

The next frontier: turning payment access into business growth

For Ghana’s SMEs, the next stage of digitalization should focus on what payment enables, not simply whether a business accepts it. The strongest payment ecosystems will fit the ways businesses already operate, whether a merchant is selling from a storefront, through social media, via an online platform or to customers beyond Ghana.

They will also connect payment acceptance with the tools businesses need to reconcile sales, manage cash flow, access finance and build resilience. The customer, the payment, the business operation and the financial system are not separate experiences for a business owner. They are part of one commercial journey.

The real measure of frictionless payments, therefore, is not how quickly a customer reaches checkout. It is what becomes possible for the business after the payment goes through.

For Ghana’s SMEs, that is where the next opportunity lies: turning digital payment adoption into a foundation for stronger, more connected and more resilient businesses.

Read more Ghana News and follow Ghana News Live for the latest developments. Explore our Top Stories and Policy & Law Hub for more business and economic coverage.

Nestlé and NBA Announce Major Partnership Across 21 Markets

By
Matilda Melbourne
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Nestlé and NBA Announce Multi-Year International Marketing Partnership Across 21 Markets

Nestlé and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have announced a new multiyear international marketing partnership that will see MILO®, Nescau® and Nesquik® become Official Partners of the NBA, with the collaboration set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

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The partnership spans 21 markets across four continents and represents Nestlé’s largest international brand collaboration to date. It is designed to connect millions of basketball fans with Nestlé brands while creating more opportunities for young people and families to participate in basketball and other physical activities.

For Ghana, the partnership carries particular significance as MILO builds on its long-standing commitment to grassroots sports development. The collaboration is expected to create new opportunities for young Ghanaian children to discover basketball, develop sporting skills and embrace active and healthy lifestyles.

Through the partnership, Nestlé and the NBA will activate across selected youth basketball development programs and platforms, including Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, NBA Basketball School, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Academies, Her Time To Play and NBA 3X. The collaboration will also extend to selected NBA events and fan engagement platforms such as NBA Global Games and NBA House.

“For decades, our brands have believed in the power of sport to bring out the best in people,” said Liberato Milo, SVP Head of Confectionery & Snacking Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé. “From Milo and Nescau sports programs to Nesquik athlete partnerships and initiatives, we have seen how sport can energize people, build confidence and create healthy habits.”

According to Nestlé, the partnership reflects its strategy of concentrating on fewer and larger global marketing platforms that can be activated consistently across markets while maintaining local relevance. The company said basketball provides an opportunity to connect with consumers at scale while inspiring more young people and families to become active.

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In Ghana, the collaboration is expected to complement MILO’s established grassroots sports initiatives, including the MILO Under 13 Champions League, which has played a role in nurturing young sporting talent over several generations.

“This is an exciting moment to further democratize access to basketball and create more opportunities for children across Ghana to discover and develop their potential through sport,” said Myron Otoo, Category Manager for Beverages and Dairy at Nestlé Ghana.

Otoo said the NBA partnership strengthens MILO’s commitment to grassroots sports development and creates opportunities to inspire the next generation of athletes while promoting active lifestyles, confidence, character and resilience among Ghanaian children.

The partnership will also include retail programs and fan experiences in participating markets. Consumers may encounter NBA-branded packaging promotions and opportunities to win NBA tickets, merchandise and other prizes.

Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media, said Nestlé’s global reach and local market presence would help the NBA connect with fans in new ways while supporting the continued growth of basketball internationally.

The partnership will initially activate across Ghana, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. The Philippines will join the partnership from October 2027, bringing the total number of participating markets to 21.

The development further highlights the growing commercial and developmental relationship between global consumer brands and basketball, particularly through youth participation programs designed to introduce the sport to younger generations.

For Ghanaian families and young basketball enthusiasts, the partnership could provide additional opportunities to engage with NBA-branded programs and experiences while building on the country’s existing grassroots sporting infrastructure.

For more Ghana News, follow GhanaMedia.net for the latest developments. Readers can also explore Ghana News Live and our Top Stories for breaking and developing stories from Ghana and around the world.

Ghana Police Break Silence on Viral Domestic Abuse Video Involving Nana Akua

By
Calvin Eli
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The Ghana Police Service has issued a detailed statement on the viral domestic abuse video involving Ros emond Akua Adobea, popularly known as Nana Akua, and her husband, Harold Norman, confirming that the matter is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.

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In a press release dated October 7, 2026, the Police said the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received a formal petition from Ros emond Akua Adobea on August 20, alleging that her husband had subjected her to physical, emotional and economic abuse.

The disclosure provides the first detailed official account of the case after images and video footage involving the couple circulated widely online, generating significant public concern and renewed conversations about domestic violence and the protection of victims.

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According to the Police, preliminary investigations established that the couple had previously come to the attention of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Lakeside and Ministries Police Stations in July 2026.

Following receipt of the petition, investigators arrested Harold Norman at his residence on August 27 to assist with investigations. The Police said a caution statement was subsequently obtained from him.

Two days later, on August 29, Norman was granted police enquiry bail with two sureties while investigations continued.

The case has now moved to the stage where the accused person is expected to appear before court. However, the Police said his lawyer informed them that Norman had been admitted to hospital and was therefore unable to appear as scheduled.

The development has introduced another layer to a case that has already attracted intense public attention, particularly because of the disturbing nature of the material circulating online and the allegations made by the woman involved.

Importantly, the Police statement makes clear that investigations are still ongoing. The allegations against Norman have not been determined by a court, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a competent court establishes otherwise.

DOVVSU investigators have since visited the hospital to verify the claim concerning Norman’s admission, according to the Police.

The Police further stated that they are monitoring the situation and intend to ensure that Norman is brought before court immediately upon his discharge from the hospital.

The case places renewed attention on the role of Ghana’s domestic violence response mechanisms, particularly the importance of allowing allegations to be investigated through lawful procedures rather than through social media verdicts.

Domestic abuse cases can involve complex layers of physical, emotional and economic control, and the Police’s reference to all three forms of alleged abuse underscores the seriousness with which the petition is being investigated.

For the public, the viral footage may have created an immediate impression of what happened. For investigators and the courts, however, establishing the full circumstances requires statements, evidence, medical information and other investigative material to be properly examined.

As the investigation continues, attention will remain on the next legal steps and on the Police’s assurance that the accused will be arraigned when medically able to appear.

GhanaMedia.net will continue to follow developments in the case while maintaining the distinction between allegations, investigative findings and facts established by a court of law.

Presby SHS Bompata NSMQ Contestant Edward Anato Reportedly Dies in Car Accident

By
Ghana Media
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News of the reported death of Edward Anato, a student of Presby Senior High School (SHS), Bompata, has sparked sadness among students, teachers and members of the school community.

Anato, who represented Presby SHS Bompata as a contestant in the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), is reported to have died in a car accident.

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Presby SHS Bompata NSMQ Contestant Edward Anato Reportedly Dies in Car Accident 10

Details surrounding the reported accident, including the exact location, circumstances and timing of the crash, were not immediately available at the time of publication.

The young student was known to have represented his school in the prestigious academic competition, which brings together some of Ghana’s leading senior high schools to compete in science and mathematics.

His reported passing has generated concern and condolences, particularly among those connected to Presby SHS Bompata and the wider NSMQ community.

GhanaMedia.net is continuing to monitor developments and will update this report when further details are officially confirmed by the school, family or relevant authorities.

MTN Ghana’s Antoinette Kwofie Calls for Investment in Women’s Empowerment

By
Ghana Media
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Accra, October 7, 2026 — Chief Finance Officer of MTN Ghana, Antoinette Kwofie, has called for increased investment in women’s economic empowerment, describing it as a key driver of Ghana’s future growth and prosperity.

She said advancing women’s participation in business and leadership requires more than access to opportunities, stressing the need for deliberate investment in digital skills, financial inclusion, professional networks and support systems that enable women to thrive.

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Ms Kwofie made the call at the 10th Anniversary Conference and Expo of the Executive Women Network (EWN), held at the Palms Convention Centre under the theme, “A Decade of Leadership, A Future Toward Holistic Impact – Self and Family, Career, Legacy.”

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She noted that empowering women was not only a social imperative but also an economic necessity.

“The future of Ghana will be shaped significantly by the progress of its women. When women are equipped with the right tools, opportunities and support systems, businesses grow, communities prosper and economies become more resilient,” she said.

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Ms Kwofie said women require more than access to opportunities to succeed, adding that sustainable progress depends on access to information, digital tools, financial protection, business support and strong professional networks.

She also challenged women in leadership to use their influence to create opportunities for others, saying the true measure of leadership should include the lives changed and opportunities created.

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“Mentor that young woman. Champion her growth. Open a door. Make an introduction. Share the lessons your experience has taught you,” she urged.

MTN Ghana’s commitment to women

As MTN Ghana celebrates 30 years of connecting people and enabling progress, Ms Kwofie pointed to the Yello Ladies Network as one of the company’s flagship initiatives demonstrating its commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusive leadership.

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MTN Ghana’s Antoinette Kwofie Calls for Investment in Women’s Empowerment 20

The network, which she helped establish as founding Chair, continues to support the professional growth of women across the organisation and reflects MTN Ghana’s commitment to achieving gender balance by 2030.

“The advancement of women is fundamental to the advancement of society. At MTN, we believe that creating opportunities for women to succeed is not only good for business, but also critical to unlocking the full potential of our nation,” she said.

EWN marks 10 years of impact

Chairperson of EWN, Janet Sunkwa-Mills, said the organisation had directly impacted more than 10,000 lives through mentoring, capacity building and youth empowerment programmes over the past decade.

The network has grown from six founders to 200 members across 28 industries, reflecting its expansion and influence over the past 10 years.

Ms Kwofie congratulated EWN on the milestone and reaffirmed MTN Ghana’s commitment to supporting the network and initiatives that promote women’s leadership, professional development and economic participation.

Wontumi Not Yet Confirmed Among Mahama’s 863 Pardoned Convicts

By
Ghana Media
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Chairman Wontumi has not yet been officially confirmed as one of the 863 convicted persons pardoned by President John Dramani Mahama, according to his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye Danquah.

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Wontumi Not Yet Confirmed Among Mahama’s 863 Pardoned Convicts 22

Dr Boakye Danquah said Wontumi’s team is still waiting for formal communication from the relevant authorities before determining whether the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party is included in the presidential pardon.

President Mahama announced on Monday that he had exercised the prerogative of mercy under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution, following consultation with the Council of State, granting pardons to 863 convicted persons across the country.

Wontumi’s name remains unconfirmed

According to Dr Boakye Danquah, the team has not received any official communication indicating that Wontumi is among the beneficiaries.

He said the team would wait for the authorities to release the relevant details before making a definitive statement about Wontumi’s status.

“We don’t have the fine details yet and so if we are yet to be communicated to, we will let the public know,” he said.

He added that if Wontumi’s name appears among the beneficiaries, the team’s expectation is that it would fall under the Special Recommendation or Petition category.

Mahama’s pardon covers 863 convicts

The presidential exercise covers several categories of convicted persons, including first offenders, people aged 70 and above, seriously ill inmates, persons whose death sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment and individuals whose life sentences have been reduced to 20 years.

The categories also include individuals considered under special recommendations and petitions.

The announcement has generated considerable public interest, particularly over the status of high-profile prisoners whose names could potentially fall within the different categories.

Wontumi’s legal team focused on October 15

While waiting for clarification on the pardon, Wontumi’s legal team is also pursuing an application for bail pending the determination of his appeal.

Dr Boakye Danquah said the team remains hopeful that the appeal will succeed and that the court will grant bail pending the outcome of the legal process.

“We are just praying that the appeal goes through and also we are praying that the bail pending the appeal goes through,” he said.

Wontumi’s case has attracted significant public attention because of his political profile and the circumstances surrounding his conviction and subsequent sentence.

For now, Wontumi’s inclusion in Mahama’s list of 863 pardoned convicts remains unconfirmed. His team says it will wait for official communication before drawing any conclusions about whether the presidential clemency applies to him.

Readers can follow further developments through Ghana Media’s Politics coverage and our Ghana News section.

Ugandan Sisters Escape Burning Home After Reported Christian Conversion

By
Ghana Media
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Two sisters in western Uganda have reportedly survived a house fire after allegedly being targeted by their father following their conversion from Islam to Christianity.

The sisters, identified as Amina and Shamila, were reportedly inside their home in Kibenge, Kasese District, when the building caught fire during the night of September 6, 2026.

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According to reports, the incident occurred less than two weeks after the sisters converted to Christianity on August 26. Their father, identified as Muhamud, is alleged to have threatened them after they rejected Islam.

The sisters reportedly escaped through a hole in the wall

The sisters reportedly woke after noticing the smell of fuel and discovering that their home was surrounded by flames. They are said to have removed bricks from part of the wall and created an opening through which they escaped.

The fire reportedly destroyed much of their property, including clothing, mattresses and other personal belongings.

Following their escape, Christian neighbours reportedly came to their assistance and contacted local leaders over the incident.

Amina was quoted in reports as saying that although the fire destroyed their home and belongings, it had not destroyed their faith or hope in Jesus Christ.

Local leaders reportedly condemn the incident

Christian leaders in the area have reportedly condemned the alleged attack and called for accountability under Ugandan law. A local chief also reportedly condemned violence associated with religious differences.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to the challenges that some Christian converts from Muslim backgrounds can face, particularly where religious conversion creates tension within families or communities.

However, the allegations against the father and the precise circumstances surrounding the fire remain claims reported by Christian persecution organisations and other outlets. Ghana Media has not independently verified the allegations through Ugandan police or court records.

The sisters reportedly survived the fire, but their home and possessions were destroyed. Their case has since attracted international attention amid wider discussions about religious freedom, conversion and family pressure in parts of Africa.

Readers can follow more international developments through Ghana Media’s World News coverage and related stories on GhanaMedia.net.

Wontumi Drags EXIM Bank Over GH¢18.7M Loan Dispute

By
Daniel Jeddman
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Chairman Wontumi has renewed the legal battle surrounding an alleged GH¢18.7 million Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) facility, with the businessman facing a criminal case involving allegations of fraud, forgery, money laundering and causing financial loss to a public institution.

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing the case alongside Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako over financing obtained from EXIM Bank for an agricultural project.

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According to the prosecution, EXIM Bank approved a combined loan and grant facility of about GH¢18.7 million for Wontumi Farms Limited in 2018, with approximately GH¢14.3 million subsequently disbursed.

The State alleges that the funds were obtained using representations relating to a large-scale farming project that was never carried out as proposed.

The disputed EXIM Bank facility

Prosecutors allege that Wontumi Farms applied for financing of approximately GH¢19 million to support an agricultural venture, including the acquisition of machinery and development of farmland.

The prosecution further alleges that documents submitted in support of the application contained irregularities and that a document presented as evidence of a GH¢4 million purchase of agricultural machinery was actually an altered pro-forma invoice.

Investigators also allege that the proposed farming operation was not undertaken and that substantial portions of the funds were instead used for other purposes.

The allegations have resulted in charges including defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.

Plea negotiations collapse

The case entered a new phase after Wontumi’s legal team initiated plea-bargaining discussions with the State.

However, the negotiations failed to produce an agreement. The High Court in Accra subsequently directed that the substantive EXIM Bank case should proceed, with the prosecution ordered to file and serve its disclosures.

The court later scheduled the matter for a case management conference as the State prepared to advance its case.

Wontumi has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and has denied wrongdoing. The claims against him remain allegations until determined by the court.

Why the GH¢18.7 million figure matters

The GH¢18.7 million facility has become a central figure in the case because it represents the financing approved by EXIM Bank, while prosecutors say about GH¢14.3 million was actually disbursed.

The State has also alleged that the wider financial loss arising from the transaction exceeds GH¢30 million, taking into account the alleged use and handling of the funds.

The case has attracted significant public attention because it involves a prominent political figure and a state-owned financial institution. It also raises questions about due diligence, documentation and oversight in the disbursement of public-sector-backed financing.

As the proceedings continue, the court will ultimately determine whether the prosecution can prove the allegations against Wontumi and the other accused persons beyond the required legal standard.

Readers can follow related developments through the Ghana Media Ghana News section and our Policy Hub.

The GH¢18.7 million EXIM Bank dispute therefore remains before the courts, with Wontumi maintaining his plea of not guilty as the criminal proceedings continue.

Ghana Introduces Cedi-to-Yuan Payment Route for China Trade

By
Daniella Athena
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ghana and china in ghana news

Ghana has taken a significant step towards diversifying its international payment channels after a new arrangement began allowing eligible Ghanaian businesses to initiate payments to Chinese suppliers in Chinese yuan from Ghana cedi accounts.

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Ghana Introduces Cedi-to-Yuan Payment Route for China Trade

The arrangement is being piloted by Stanbic Bank Ghana through China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), providing businesses involved in Ghana-China trade with a more direct route for settling eligible transactions in yuan.

The development could reduce the need for Ghanaian importers to first source US dollars before paying Chinese suppliers, potentially lowering transaction costs, reducing currency-conversion steps and improving payment efficiency.

According to information published by Stanbic Bank Ghana, customers do not necessarily need a separate yuan account to initiate eligible RMB payments. Customers can use their existing banking channels, select Chinese yuan as the payment currency and submit the required supporting documentation.

Eligible payments submitted with complete documentation by 2:00 p.m. GMT can be processed for settlement by the next business day, subject to regulatory and compliance requirements.

How the cedi-to-yuan payment route works

Under the arrangement, a Ghanaian importer with an eligible transaction can instruct the bank to make payment in Chinese yuan. The bank handles the conversion from cedis into yuan and the payment is subsequently routed through CIPS to the participating Chinese bank.

This means the new arrangement does not mean Ghanaian businesses are sending physical cedis to China. Rather, it creates a more direct financial route in which the customer’s cedi funds are converted into yuan for settlement with the Chinese supplier.

CIPS is China’s cross-border payment infrastructure for transactions denominated in renminbi, also known as the yuan. The system provides an alternative channel for eligible RMB transactions and can reduce dependence on intermediary banks.

For Ghanaian businesses importing machinery, electronics, vehicles, textiles, industrial equipment and other products from China, the development could simplify part of the international payment process.

Dollar payments remain available

The introduction of the cedi-to-yuan route does not mean the US dollar has been removed from Ghana-China trade. Existing international payment channels, including dollar transactions, remain available for eligible businesses and transactions.

Instead, the new arrangement provides another option for companies whose China-related payments qualify for yuan settlement.

Stanbic Bank Ghana has described the CIPS arrangement as a way to make China-related payments more direct, efficient and transparent. The bank says the service is designed for businesses and individuals making eligible payments to China, including trade, education, healthcare and other permitted transactions.

GCB also preparing similar service

Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama has indicated that Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) is also developing a similar arrangement.

The development comes as Ghana continues to strengthen its economic and financial relationship with China, one of the country’s major trading partners.

For businesses and policymakers, the expansion of yuan-based settlement could provide greater flexibility in managing international trade payments while reducing some of the pressure associated with sourcing foreign currency for China-related transactions.

However, the system remains subject to applicable banking regulations, documentation requirements and compliance checks. Not every transaction will automatically qualify for the CIPS route.

The move forms part of a broader conversation around Ghana’s foreign-exchange management, international trade and diversification of payment channels. Readers can follow related developments through the Ghana Media Policy Hub and our Money and Government coverage.

Ghana’s cedi-to-yuan payment route therefore represents an additional option for China-related trade rather than an outright replacement of the US dollar. Its long-term impact will depend on adoption by businesses, transaction volumes, exchange-rate conditions and how the system develops beyond the current pilot arrangement.

Lionel Messi Retires From Argentina After Emotional Farewell Speech

By
Emmanuel Addo Adjei
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0

Lionel Messi has officially brought his Argentina national-team career to an emotional close, saying goodbye to the supporters, teammates and shirt he represented for two decades.

Messi delivered his farewell message after Argentina defeated Benin 3–0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night. The occasion marked the end of an extraordinary international career that included the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América titles and the Finalissima.

“Playing for Argentina Is the Most Beautiful Thing”

In his emotional speech, Messi said that leaving the Argentina national team would hurt deeply and admitted that, if the decision were entirely his, he would have wanted to remain with the national team for the rest of his life.

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He reflected on the sacrifices made throughout his career and said he never stopped fighting, pushing forward and giving everything for Argentina, even during the most difficult periods.

Messi also acknowledged that the time had come to retire from international football, describing the moment as extremely difficult because he did not want the farewell to end. His remarks were delivered to a packed Monumental stadium as supporters celebrated his extraordinary contribution to Argentine football.

A Career Defined by Historic Triumphs

Messi reflected on the journey that eventually brought Argentina to the top of world football. He highlighted the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, above all, the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar.

For Messi, the World Cup was the fulfilment of a childhood dream shared with an entire nation. He also stressed that the achievement belonged to a much larger group of players who had fought alongside him for Argentina long before the country finally became world champions.

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Messi finishes his career yet with another hat trick.

He praised his teammates as warriors and credited the strength and unity of the group for helping Argentina overcome difficult moments and achieve the biggest prizes in international football.

Messi Thanks Argentina’s Supporters

The Argentine captain also devoted much of his farewell to the supporters who followed the national team across the country and around the world.

He recalled playing in different cities across Argentina and experiencing extraordinary support wherever the team travelled. He urged supporters to continue backing the national team, particularly during difficult periods, stressing the importance of strong and united teams.

Messi said the atmosphere created by Argentine supporters often made international matches feel like home, regardless of where the team was playing.

“Today Might Be One of the Saddest”

Returning to the Monumental for his final appearance made the occasion particularly emotional for Messi. He recalled the stadium as the place where Argentina celebrated its first home match after becoming world champions in 2022.

He described that earlier celebration as one of the happiest days of his life, while his farewell represented one of the saddest.

Messi told supporters that he would continue supporting the national team and the players who follow him, making clear that his connection with Argentina would continue even after his international playing career ended.

His Father Was the First Person on His Mind

One of the most emotional moments came when Messi spoke about his father, Jorge, who died recently. Messi said that amid the many emotions surrounding his farewell, his father was the first person who came to his mind.

The moment added a deeply personal dimension to an already emotional goodbye and reflected the significance of family throughout Messi’s journey.

A Final Thank You

Messi ended his farewell by expressing love and pride for Argentina and saying he was leaving grateful, proud and at peace.

His final appearance came after 20 years of representing Argentina, closing a chapter that included some of the most difficult moments in the country’s modern football history as well as its greatest triumphs.

Argentina’s 3–0 victory over Benin provided a fitting final competitive stage for the captain, who scored once and assisted twice before saying goodbye to the national team.

After two decades in the Albiceleste shirt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina story has reached its final chapter—but his legacy as one of the country’s greatest footballers will remain.

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