New York, United States, 25th September 2024 — On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, and the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, were distinguished guests and keynote speakers at the inaugural Forward Africa Leaders Symposium.

The Secretary General participated in a panel discussion alongside Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, the company behind the M-Pesa mobile payment system. The event focused on advancing dialogue on Africa’s digital economy, bringing together stakeholders from political regulation, governance, and the private sector under the theme: “Advancing the debate on the digital economy in Africa with leaders at the forefront.”

In his address, the Secretary General highlighted the transformative potential of Africa’s digital economy for sustainable development, with special emphasis on the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as a pioneering solution for cross-border electronic payments across the continent. He also underscored the importance of creating a digital trade market through the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

In his address, the Secretary General highlighted the transformative potential of Africa’s digital economy for sustainable development, with special emphasis on the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as a pioneering solution for cross-border electronic payments across the continent. He also underscored the importance of creating a digital trade market through the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.