Africa must harness AI ethically to transform financial markets – Vice President
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for the ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen Africa’s financial markets and support the continent’s economic transformation. She said while AI and digital finance were creating opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand financial access, African countries must ensure that innovation was … The post Africa must harness AI ethically to transform financial markets – Vice President appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for the ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen Africa’s financial markets and support the continent’s economic transformation.
She said while AI and digital finance were creating opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand financial access, African countries must ensure that innovation was guided by strong ethical standards, accountability, and robust regulatory systems.
Speaking at the closing of the ACI World Congress 2026 in Accra on Friday, Professor Opoku-Agyemang noted that Africa’s financial future depends on trusted institutions, competent professionals, and resilient markets capable of meeting the needs of businesses and citizens.
The two-day congress, hosted by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in collaboration with the ACI Financial Markets Association (ACI FMA), was on the theme: “Elevating Markets, Empowering People.”
It brought together central bankers, regulators, fintech innovators, and market participants from across Africa and beyond.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said AI was rapidly reshaping how information is processed, risks are managed, and financial decisions are made.
She, however, cautioned that innovation raised concerns about accountability and the preservation of human responsibility in increasingly automated systems.
She stressed the need for investment in cyber resilience, data governance, regulatory capacity, and digital skills to ensure no country or institution is left behind.
“We cannot build strong economies on weak markets. Resilient markets cannot be built without trust, and trust cannot exist without competence, ethics, and strong institutions,” she emphasised.
The Vice President further underscored the need to develop financial markets that mobilise capital, support enterprises, and create opportunities for Africa’s youthful population.
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, urged African countries to build credible and sophisticated financial markets to mobilise long-term capital for infrastructure, technology, and sustainable development.
He added that Africa should be seen as a major investment destination rather than a recipient of aid.
Vice President of ACI FMA Ghana, Maame Adjoa Thompson, described Ghana’s hosting of the congress as timely, citing improving macroeconomic conditions and the country’s transition toward a developing financial market.
She noted that the conference, the first in Africa in nearly two decades, would produce practical policies and strategies to strengthen Ghana’s financial sector and position the country as a leader in Africa’s financial market space.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
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The post Africa must harness AI ethically to transform financial markets – Vice President appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
