The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has won the prestigious Innovation in Digital Currency Design for Financial Inclusion award for its eCedi at the 2024 Payment, Innovation and Technology Week, organized by Currency Research.
The Central Bank received the award in recognition of the eCedi’s innovative design, which demonstrated key elements such as governance, accessibility (both online and offline), interoperability, and infrastructure—all aimed at enhancing financial inclusion.
In addition to these technical achievements, the BoG was lauded for its ecosystem engagement approach, which included the involvement of banks and payment service providers during the eCedi pilot.
The eCedi Hackathon, where the public was invited to present their innovative ideas using the digital currency, and the live trial at the 3iAfrica Summit Digital Village, where participants made real-time payments for goods and services using the eCedi, were also key highlights that contributed to the award.
The 2024 Payment, Innovation and Technology Week was held in London, United Kingdom, and focused on digital currency trends and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for central banks. Currency Research, the organizer, is an independent global leader in premium conferences and consultancy services for central banks, regulators, and payment operators, fostering discussions that drive global change in the realms of cash and payments.