The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhIPSS), Archie Hesse has been adjudged “Most Inspirational Payments Business Leader in Africa”, at the Africa Bank 4.0 Awards 2023.
This accolade is in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the payments industry, his efforts to promote digital payment solutions, and his commitment to improving financial accessibility throughout West Africa and other parts of the continent.
The prestigious award was presented during the recent Africa Bank 4.0 Summit held in Lagos, Nigeria. The Africa Bank 4.0 Awards scheme was established as part of the summit to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication of various organizations, service providers, associations, and individuals in the financial services sector.
The awards aim to recognize pioneers and visionaries who go above and beyond to transform the Fintech industry, making access to finance in Africa more accessible, innovative, convenient, and affordable.
Archie Hesse’s journey with GhIPSS began when he assumed the role of General Manager in charge of Projects and Business Development shortly after its inception as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana. Over the years, he ascended to the position of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding the company’s first CEO, Fred France.
As CEO, Archie Hesse has overseen the remarkable transformation of GhIPSS, collaborating closely with banks and non-bank financial institutions to introduce various electronic payment channels to the public.
Some of the notable innovations include Mobile Money Interoperability, GhQR, and GhanaPay and the widely acclaimed GIP (GhIPSS Instant Pay), which placed Ghana on the map with a 100% score in inclusive instant payment in AfricaNenda’s State of Inclusive Instant Pay (SIIP) in Africa Report last year.
His primary focus has always been on advancing financial inclusion and expanding the range of instant electronic payment options available to the public. Under his leadership, GhIPSS has achieved several industry firsts and has received global recognition for its achievements.
In response to receiving the award, Archie Hesse expressed humility at the recognition and emphasized the importance of continually pushing the industry’s boundaries.
He extended his gratitude to the dedicated staff, management, and board of GhIPSS for their unwavering support, noting, “Without a great team, this wouldn’t have been possible. So, I want to celebrate the staff, the management, and the board for their respective roles and particularly encourage the staff and management to aim to even exceed their current performance.”
Currently, GhIPSS, in collaboration with various banks, is vigorously promoting the enrollment of more users onto the GhanaPay mobile money service. Registration is actively underway in different communities in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, and Western North regions, with plans to extend the initiative to other parts of the country throughout the year.
