Visa urges banks, fintech companies, and merchants in Ghana to significantly increase the availability of contactless payment acceptance. This expansion is critical to unlock the next phase of digital payments growth in the country. The payments giant emphasizes that everyday use hinges on more places accepting tap-to-pay transactions.
Ghana already possesses a strong digital payments infrastructure, including mobile money, card payments, and real-time systems. However, a large number of daily transactions still happen with cash. Wider contactless acceptance will convert consumers’ readiness into routine transaction behavior. This will help close the gap between available digital solutions and their everyday use.
This push comes as Ghana implements a national payments strategy led by the Bank of Ghana until 2029. The strategy aims to deepen financial inclusion and accelerate the shift to a digital economy. Improving the availability of digital payment options is a key government priority. Visa's initiative supports the broader goal of reducing reliance on physical cash.
Fabrice Konan, Country Manager for Visa Ghana, noted that Ghana’s digital payments ecosystem has matured significantly. He stated, “The challenge is no longer infrastructure development but increasing the everyday use of digital payment tools, particularly contactless payments.” He added that closing the gap between availability and everyday usage is the real opportunity.
The company points to Ghanaians’ use of contactless payments abroad as proof of consumer readiness. Around 50 percent of all Visa transactions by Ghanaians outside the country use contactless methods. This contrasts with Ghana, where contactless payments form only a small share of local transactions. Visa believes expanding merchant acceptance will bring broader benefits, especially for small and micro businesses.
Visa promotes technologies named Tap to Pay and Tap to Phone. These technologies allow merchants to accept payments faster. They can also turn smartphones into payment terminals without needing dedicated hardware. Reducing the cost and complexity of accepting digital payments can bring more informal businesses into the formal financial system. This provides them with transaction records necessary for accessing loans and other financial services.
Security is another important aspect of Visa’s strategy as digital payment volumes grow. Mr. Konan highlighted tokenisation technology, which replaces card numbers with unique digital identifiers. He explained that tokenised transactions have approximately 30 percent less fraud than traditional card transactions. This technology strengthens payment security and improves transaction success rates. Visa has also deepened collaborations with local partners, including the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Association of Banks.
Looking ahead, Mr. Konan outlined three priorities for the next 18 months. These include expanding acceptance infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity coordination, and deepening engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises. Progress in these areas will determine Ghana's ability to translate its digital payments foundation into wider adoption and economic impact. He affirmed, “The consumer appetite is demonstrated; the infrastructure must meet them.”