The Group Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has revealed that MTN Ghana is actively exploring opportunities to secure digital banking licences as part of its strategy to expand mobile money services beyond traditional USSD-based platforms.
The move is aimed at offering more advanced, app-based, and digitally enhanced financial experiences to Ghanaians.
Speaking during a strategic visit to Ghana at the beginning of 2026, Mr. Mupita described the initiative as a natural evolution of fintech in the country. He confirmed that preliminary discussions had taken place with the Bank of Ghana regarding the future licensing landscape.
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Advancing digital banking and Fintech innovation
According to Mr. Mupita, MTN sees digital banking as the next logical step in deepening financial inclusion in Ghana.
By moving beyond simple mobile money transactions, the company intends to provide a richer, app-based ecosystem that allows users to manage payments, savings, and other financial services with greater convenience and security.
The initiative is expected to complement MTN’s existing mobile money operations, which have already transformed financial access for millions of Ghanaians, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
Expanding remittance corridors
In discussions with government stakeholders, Mr. Mupita highlighted the importance of seamless remittance corridors as a key pillar of MTN’s financial strategy.
Operating across multiple African markets, MTN recognises that many people live and work in countries other than where their families reside, creating growing demand for efficient and secure cross-border money transfers.
“Ghanaians working abroad, whether in Europe or elsewhere, should be able to send money home easily and safely,” Mupita said.
The company is therefore building remittance corridors both within Africa and globally, with Ghana as a critical hub.
Mr Mupita emphasised that the success of such corridors depends on supportive regulatory frameworks.
He noted that MTN is collaborating closely with the Bank of Ghana to advance these initiatives, ensuring compliance and alignment with national financial sector objectives.
Strategic visit to Ghana
Mr. Mupita described his early 2026 visit to Ghana as both symbolic and strategic.
Ghana, he said, “feels like home,” underscoring the importance of the market within MTN Group’s broader African portfolio.
The visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with MTN Ghana’s leadership team, board members, regulators, and key government stakeholders, reinforcing the Group’s long-term commitment to the country.
During the trip, Mr. Mupita paid courtesy calls on officials at the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, and the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George.
He described the engagements as constructive and forward-looking, centred on aligning MTN’s strategy with Ghana’s development agenda.
Strengthening digital finance and security
A significant part of the discussions focused on expanding advanced mobile money services and leveraging technology to enhance trust and security in financial transactions.
Mr. Mupita reiterated MTN’s commitment to collaborating with the central bank to combat fraud and scams within the mobile money ecosystem.
He highlighted plans to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools to strengthen fraud detection and prevention systems, stressing that these challenges are not unique to Ghana but are shared across the digital finance industry globally.
The CEO said the combination of digital banking, AI-driven fraud protection, and expanded remittance corridors positions MTN to accelerate financial inclusion and provide Ghanaians with modern, secure, and convenient digital financial services.
Reaffirming long-term commitment
Beyond fintech, Mupita emphasised that the visit reinforced MTN Group’s broader investment in digital infrastructure and its alignment with Ghana’s national priorities.
“The purpose of our engagement is to reaffirm MTN’s long-term commitment to Ghana as a major investor in both digital infrastructure and financial inclusion,” he said, noting that the company’s strategic direction is designed to benefit consumers, businesses, and the wider economy.
By exploring digital banking licences, strengthening mobile money services, and leveraging AI for security, MTN Ghana is positioning itself at the forefront of the country’s fintech revolution while reaffirming its role as a trusted partner in Ghana’s digital transformation.
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