Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, Divisional Director for West Africa (Gulf of Guinea) at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has called for deeper investment in Africa’s digital public infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships to drive continental growth and regional integration.
Speaking on the topic, Harnessing Continental Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Development, at the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, she said Africa risks “scaling silos instead of scaling growth” if countries fail to build interconnected digital systems that support cross-border trade, finance and innovation.
Related Stories
According to her, Africa’s next phase of economic growth will depend on how quickly governments, regulators and private sector players can collaborate to create interoperable digital infrastructure that supports businesses across the continent.
If Africa does not address fragmentation, we risk scaling silos instead of scaling growth. We risk having innovation without productivity and access without prosperity,” she stated.
Kouassi-Akon stressed that digital integration was no longer optional, arguing that Africa’s competitiveness now depends on digital identity systems, interoperable payment networks, trusted data-sharing frameworks and affordable connectivity.
She explained that while many African countries have developed digital finance platforms, businesses still struggle to expand beyond their domestic markets due to fragmented systems and regulatory barriers.
Integration is the economic shift that transforms digital finance into continental growth,” she noted.
The IFC official also highlighted the continent’s infrastructure financing gap, noting that sub-Saharan African countries currently finance nearly 90 percent of infrastructure projects from domestic resources, placing heavy pressure on governments.
She said digital transformation cannot succeed without investments in electricity, skills development, cybersecurity and strong institutions.
Kouassi-Akon further underscored the importance of trust, governance and data protection in building successful digital ecosystems, warning that citizens and investors would only adopt digital platforms if systems are secure and transparent.
She advocated stronger public-private partnership models, saying governments alone cannot finance the scale of digital infrastructure Africa requires.
The private sector brings capital, technology, innovation and operational expertise,” she said, adding that development finance institutions such as IFC can help mobilise additional private investment into critical infrastructure projects.
She revealed that IFC has invested more than $9.6 billion in digital infrastructure over the past decade and continues to support projects aimed at expanding connectivity and digital services across Africa.
Kouassi-Akon pointed to a recent $100 million financing package for regional data centre expansion across countries including Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example of how blended finance and regional partnerships can accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
She concluded by urging African leaders to focus on building connected systems that allow small businesses, entrepreneurs and young people to participate fully in the digital economy.
The question before us today is not whether Africa’s digital economy will grow. It will. The real question is who will build it, scale it and benefit from it,” she asked.
The 3i Africa Summit, jointly organised by the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems, with support from partners including MTN Group and Global Finance & Technology Network, has convened policymakers, central bank governors, regulators, fintech firms and development institutions from across the continent.
Held at the Grand Arena, the three-day summit provides a platform for stakeholders to explore ways of advancing digital payments, deepening financial inclusion, improving cross-border interoperability and strengthening regulatory coordination across Africa.
Discussions at the forum are centred on areas including mobile money growth, digital identity systems, fintech innovation, investment in digital infrastructure and the use of technology to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Overall, the summit is aimed at driving Africa’s transition from fragmented financial systems to a more integrated digital economy capable of supporting trade, innovation and inclusive growth across the continent.
