Bank of Ghana (BoG) has been elected
as the Vice Chair of the African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI)
and will take over the position in the next two years.
Launched in 2013, AfPI is the primary
platform for AFI members in Africa to support and develop financial inclusion
policies and regulatory frameworks, and to coordinate regional peer learning
efforts.
With support from AFI's regional
office in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, AfPI brings together high-level
representatives from African financial policymaking and regulatory institutions
to enhance the implementation of innovative financial inclusion policies across
the continent.
AfPI Leaders' Roundtable will be held
in the Seychelles in 2023 after Seychelles took over as the Chair of AFI's
African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI) from the Bank of Tanzania.
Prof. Florens D.M.A Luoga, Governor
Bank of Tanzania, handed over the post to his Seychelles counterpart Governor
Caroline Abel on 23 June during AfPI Leaders' roundtable in Arusha, Tanzania.
Governor Abel is the first woman to Chair an AFI regional initiative.
Expressing appreciation and honour
given to him and cooperation he enjoyed with AFI Management Unit and from
members of the African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI), Professor
Luoga welcomed Governor Abel as the new chair during the closed AfPI Leaders'
Discussion.
Thanking Prof Luoga and the Bank of
Tanzania for the leadership during the past two challenging years of the global
COVID-19 pandemic, AFI Executive Director Dr. Alfred Hannig praised
collaboration and engagement both in the Africa region and the global network.
Governor Abel assumed the post noting
that the “noble task of fostering parentships and exchanging experiences would
further take the network to new heights and continue to play a critical role in
peer learning on innovative financial inclusion policies across the African
continent.”
She emphasized that diversity in both
AFI's biggest regional initiative and the global network, presents ample
opportunities to gain new perspectives and strengthen efforts to move forward.
“Our journey to enhance financial inclusion is ongoing. We have to adapt to
changing realities to enhance financial services for all and achieve inclusive
and sustainable economic growth”, Seychelles Governor said in her acceptance
remarks.
Governor Abel's post of the AfPI Chair
reflects progress made in gender and women inclusive finance in the network as
part of work under the Denerau Action Plan (DAP).
This is the first time AFI Africa
leaders met in person, following two years of virtual work. Leaders discussed
inclusive digital finance and policies that promote financial inclusion for
vulnerable groups such as women, the youth, forcibly displaced persons, and
rural and remote communities. High level public-private dialogue which
followed, offered an exchange of market-based solutions that promote
sustainable and inclusive finance.
“This week's program showed how the
network has matured. This is obvious from contributions and quality of
solutions shared. The spirit of our community is back” AFI's Hannig told the leaders
adding that members in the region showed incredible resilience and energy over
the past two years. “This region has been instrumental in making AFI a leading
global policy alliance”, Dr Hannig underscored and thanked Bank of Tanzania for
its leadership.
Addressing the leaders, Dr. Hannig
explained that in the post pandemic world it becomes obvious that every crisis
comes with opportunities. With the world being impacted by the conflict in
Eastern Europe, inflation, climate crisis, pressure is increasing on the
vulnerable groups such as women, who have suffered the most during the
pandemic.
“Financial inclusion can bring balance
and a strong organization such as AFI is necessary to keep the promise of
leaving no one behind”, Dr. Hannig said.
Reflecting on what has made AFI strong
over the years, AFI's Executive Director highlighted good governance and
maintaining its highest standards, along with genuine values such as open
dialogue, cooperation model based on modesty, humility, mutual respect and honesty,
as well as a sound funding base.
“Our business model has proven to be
strong and commitments from members have been key”, Dr. Hannig told the
meeting.
GNA