Across Africa, the story of digital transformation is being rewritten by our very own people. The MOBEX Africa Tech Conference 2025 brought together industry leaders, regulators, and entrepreneurs shaping the continent’s next chapter of growth through technology. 

On Day 2 of the conference, Hubtel’s Head of Merchant Growth & Partnerships, Daniel Frimpong, joined a panel discussion on “Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential Through Financial Innovation and Integration.” The session explored how digital payments and financial systems can power inclusive growth, strengthen trade, and connect economies across borders.

Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential Through Collaboration 

Moderated by Ato Ulzen-Appiah, the panel featured key figures from across the financial and technology ecosystem, including Clarence Blay (Director, Bank of Ghana), Dr. Nathan Annobi (CEO, PaySwitch), and Kayode Akomolafe (Digital Transformation Director, AWS). 

They discussed the need for deeper collaboration among fintechs, regulators, and policymakers to build systems that make digital trade seamless and inclusive. Topics ranged from cross-border interoperability and regulatory alignment to simplified KYC processes that can expand financial access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. 

READ ALSO: Hubtel Sweeps Four Awards at 2025 Digital Innovation Awards 

Building Trust as the Foundation of Africa’s Digital Growth 

Representing Hubtel, Daniel Frimpong highlighted that Africa’s digital transformation depends not only on innovation, but on the reliability and trust that sustain it. Reflecting on Hubtel’s 20-year journey in Ghana’s fintech landscape, he shared how the company’s model has always centered on creating long-term value for both businesses and consumers. 

“Our model has always been B2B2C; helping businesses serve their customers better through dependable digital payment systems,” Daniel said. “What keeps users engaged isn’t just innovation, but reliability. When people know they can trust your system to work every time, you earn the right to scale.” 

He added that as Africa moves toward greater financial integration, building and maintaining user confidence will be essential to increasing digital adoption across borders. 

Confronting the Regulatory Hurdles 

The discussion also touched on one of Africa’s biggest challenges, fragmented financial regulations across countries. Speakers emphasized the need for harmonized policies that would allow fintechs licensed in one jurisdiction to operate across multiple African markets. 

Daniel echoed this, noting the importance of systems that work for Africans wherever they trade or transact. This reflects Hubtel’s mission to build simple and secure digital solutions that help people find and pay for everyday essentials. 

The Next Leap for Africa’s Fintech Ecosystem 

Earlier sessions at the conference set a reflective tone on Africa’s digital sovereignty and innovation capacity. Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor emphasized investing in local infrastructure and education to reduce dependency on foreign systems. Hon. Sam Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, also called for stronger policies and homegrown innovation to secure Africa’s digital future. 

Across all sessions, one message that stood out was the shared believe that Africa’s economic rise can and will be powered by African systems, African leadership, and African collaboration. 

Hubtel’s Commitment to Digital Innovation 

As Ghana’s leading fintech platform, Hubtel’s participation in MOBEX Africa 2025 reaffirms its commitment to driving inclusive growth through simple, reliable, and user-centered digital solutions. 

Daniel Frimpong’s insights echoed how the success of Africa’s fintech revolution depends not only on the speed of innovation, but on the depth of trust it earns.  

“Africa’s digital future will thrive on systems people can depend on; solutions that work every time, for everyone.” 

On Monday, 15th September 2025, the Hubtel team received news that would change the tone of the week completely — the sudden passing of Kojo Akyer, a valued member of the Quality Assurance (QA) team.  

Kojo joined Hubtel on 1st August 2024 as a Quality Assurance Test Automation Engineer, a role that placed him at the heart of ensuring the reliability of Hubtel’s systems and applications. In a short time, he became an integral part of the QA team, working on the Merchants Portal and collaborating with other testers to strengthen system performance and deliver smooth customer experiences. 

Though relatively new to the company, Kojo quickly distinguished himself through his work ethic, focus, and humility. He approached every project with quiet determination and professionalism that earned the respect of both his peers and leaders. 

“Kojo brought both skill and dedication to his work,” shared Michael Adom, Head of the QA Department. “He approached every task with focus, diligence, and humility. His technical expertise, willingness to learn, and teamwork stood out in every project he touched. Above all, Kojo was dependable — someone who could always be counted on to get the job done right.” 

His calm personality and disciplined approach to testing and automation made him a steady influence on his team. Those who worked closest with him often describe him as a kind, reliable, and quietly confident professional who made everyone feel at ease. 

“His unwavering dedication and quiet humility left a lasting impression on both our immediate team and the entire QA department,” said Jewel Appiah, one of his managers. “Kojo made significant contributions that not only advanced our work but also strengthened the bonds among team members. He will be remembered not just for what he did, but for who he was dependable, kind, and deeply respected.” 

Kojo’s time at Hubtel may have been brief, but his impact was profound. Beyond his technical contributions, he embodied qualities that resonate deeply within Hubtel’s culture, teamwork, respect, and a commitment to excellence done with humility. He represented the quiet strength that keeps teams moving forward, often without seeking recognition or applause. 

For many of his colleagues, his passing is a poignant reminder of the value of every shared moment and every small act of kindness that shapes a workplace. The QA department and the wider Hubtel family continue to honour his memory, remembering him not only as a colleague but as a friend. 

Kojo Akyer will be missed for his craft, his composure, and his humanity. And though his journey with us was short, the mark he left behind will remain for years to come. 

May his soul rest in peace. 

Kokomlemle, Accra – September 30, 2025 – Hubtel, Ghana’s leading Payment Services Provider, recently took the global stage with a feature on CNN’s Marketplace Africa.  

The segment, anchored by Zain Asher, showcased the company’s journey from an emerging tech venture to a Fintech powerhouse, providing valuable insights into the ever-growing digital economy in Ghana and across the continent. 

The feature included an exclusive interview with Alex Bram, CEO and Co-founder of Hubtel, who articulated the strategic pivots and core philosophies that have driven the company’s success since its founding two decades ago. 

The CNN segment highlighted Hubtel as a clear example of homegrown African innovation at work. The narrative focused on the crucial role Hubtel plays in digitizing commerce and facilitating seamless financial transactions, a critical function in a rapidly digitizing market. 

The interview was structured around key strategic themes, labelled as “Points,” that defined Hubtel’s journey and future vision: 

The Profit Point (Enabling Digital Commerce):

This focused on Hubtel’s core business of helping businesses collect payments from diverse sources—cash, mobile money, cards, and other digital wallets. Bram highlighted that Hubtel digitizes storefronts for a wide range of customers, from “the very small micro-enterprises” (such as a woman selling corn or plantain) to large corporations providing utility and entertainment services. 

The Homegrown Point (The Ghanaian Advantage):

Bram stressed that Hubtel’s development is inextricably linked to the story of Ghana. Ghana’s early opening up of the mobile telephony market in the 1990s created a fertile ground for companies to build digital systems, providing the market momentum to succeed. He also noted that Ghana “got it right with mobile money and interbank interoperability” early on, which has been key to the financial ecosystem’s growth. 

The Pivot Point (Strategic Evolution): The segment detailed Hubtel’s critical transition. 

The company was founded on the idea of making SMS useful for businesses, a path they followed for quite some time. The major shift, or “pivot,” occurred around 2015 when mobile money began to truly take off. Hubtel strategically moved its business away from micro-billing (like airtime billing) into becoming a leading platform for mobile money and payments. 

The Communication Point (Working with Government):

Alex addressed the complexities of working with the public sector, noting that when serving government and public service providers, Hubtel brings the same level of innovation and quality used for private businesses. He underscored the need for engagement and communication with the government, acknowledging that a “private sector lens” cannot always be applied without modification. 

The Future Point (Uncapped Growth):

Looking ahead, Alex highlighted the massive untapped potential. Despite being Ghana’s leading Fintech, Hubtel still has significant room to grow, currently only processing a fraction of the total volume of digital transactions in the economy. With a merchant base poised for expansion, the company’s focus remains on scaling its platform to drive deeper penetration of digital finance. 

Building Homegrown Solutions for a Digital Africa 

Hubtel’s ability to evolve from a messaging company (formerly SMSGH) to a comprehensive payment and commerce platform is a prime example of African businesses building world-class solutions for African challenges. Hubtel brings many payment methods into one system. Businesses accept and track payments in one place. This helps both small businesses and large businesses join the digital economy.

As Bram stated, the long-term vision is clear: “We want to be able to step it up. We think that Ghana still gives us a lot of room to grow. Even as the number one Fintech here, we still process just about 12% of the volume of transactions… This economy has over 800,000 such businesses. There is still a lot of room to grow.” 

Why This Feature Matters 

Marketplace Africa is CNN’s flagship business program dedicated to highlighting companies, leaders, and innovations that are shaping Africa’s economic future. By showcasing homegrown success stories, the program provides global audiences with a deeper understanding of the continent’s entrepreneurial energy and technological advancement. 

Being profiled on Marketplace Africa affirms Hubtel’s strategy, resilience, and impact. The feature presents Hubtel not only as a leader in Ghana’s fintech space but also as a company setting the pace for digital innovation across Africa. 

The coverage underscores the growing international recognition of Ghana’s technology ecosystem, with Hubtel at its core. By bridging informal and formal commerce, enabling everyday transactions, and driving financial inclusion, Hubtel continues to shape the future of Africa’s digital economy. 

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