Experts across Africa’s digital and financial sectors have highlighted the urgent need for certification of digital solutions to build trust, ensure security and enhance the overall efficiency of payment systems on the continent.
The stakeholders made the call during a panel session at the ongoing 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, themed: ‘Accelerating the Power of Digital Solutions for a Borderless Africa’.
The experts argued that formal certification is far more than a compliance exercise and amounts to a strategic enabler of digital transformation that is critical to reducing fraud, improving user confidence and enabling widespread adoption of digital financial technologies.
Beyond certification, the panel stressed the imperative of harmonising regulatory frameworks through the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
According to them, the protocol is a vital step towards establishing a unified set of rules covering critical areas such as data governance, cryptocurrency regulation, artificial intelligence and online safety, enabling the 55 African Union member states to operate under a cohesive digital governance structure.
Despite the progress made so far, the experts acknowledged existing gaps such as regulatory alignment, fragmented digital infrastructure and absence of cross-border system compatibility, which have continued to hinder seamless integration of digital trade.
They said the bottlenecks could only be resolved through coordinated policy actions and sustained investments in digital public infrastructure and capacity development.
Chief Executive Officer of Global Policy House (GPH), Michelle Chivunga, called for the domestication of the AfCFTA Protocol by African nations, describing it as the ‘key to Africa’s financial freedom,’ particularly in revolutionising payment systems.
She emphasised the urgency of building home-grown solutions and investing in digital public infrastructure, including domestic technology models that reflect African contexts.
“Africa must define its own future in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This includes investing in robust data protection laws, clear IT regulations and mutual agreements between members to ensure policy coherence and accountability.
“We must also reduce dependency on foreign currencies in our payment systems. Strengthening the use of local currencies is vital as over-reliance on external currencies restricts trade volume and limits financial sovereignty,” she said.
Chief Executive Officer of Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Mike Ogbalu, noted that wider participation in the PAPSS network is essential to realising its potential.
“When all African countries are fully connected to the PAPSS ecosystem, it will not only accelerate real-time payments but also significantly enhance intra-African trade,” he stated.
Also speaking, Acting Director of Digital Banking at Afreximbank, Emeka Onyia, stressed the importance of supporting SMEs in navigating the digital trade environment.
He pointed out that trust remains a major barrier for small businesses engaging in cross-border digital transactions.
To address this, Onyia said Afreximbank has introduced ‘Africa Trade Gateway,’ a digital ecosystem aimed at improving transparency and building trust among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), policymakers, and financial institutions by providing access to reliable market data, regulatory information, and trade facilitation tools across the continent.
“The platform provides critical information on market access and regulatory requirements, allowing SMEs to make informed decisions and transact with confidence,” he explained.
He further noted that the bank is collaborating with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat to build data infrastructure and create a ‘digital rail’ that will transform protocols into practical tools for trade facilitation.
Chief Executive Officer of Think Touch Solution, Farrah Bouras, decried persistent challenges around transport payment systems and data unavailability, noting that these barriers have continued to complicate the delivery of digital services across African countries.
