Mastercard Grows Africa Digital Payments Network 45% in 2025, Anchored by Ghana’s West Africa Hub Strategy
A year after opening its first office in Accra, Mastercard reports a 45 percent expansion in its Africa acceptance network and reaffirms Ghana's strategic position as the company's West African fintech hub — with AI and agentic commerce expected to define the next era of African digital commerce by 2030.
A Defining Year for Mastercard in Africa
Mastercard has reported a 45 percent expansion of its Africa acceptance network during 2025 — a milestone the company describes as bringing millions more consumers and small businesses into the continent’s fast-expanding digital economy. The accelerated growth included new market entries, significant investment, product innovation, and an expanded on-ground presence. Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa at Mastercard, said the company grew its employee base by almost 20 percent across the continent.
The expansion included the opening of Mastercard’s first office in Accra, Ghana, on January 13, 2025 — the company’s latest permanent footprint in Africa, joining existing offices in Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and Mauritius. The Accra office was described by the company as a “strategic milestone” signalling its commitment to West Africa as a core growth market.
“Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity for Mastercard to enhance its geographical presence in West Africa,” said Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa. “We are committed to attracting and nurturing top talent and fostering an ecosystem that aims to contribute positively to the local economy and technological advancement.”
“2025 has been a defining year for Mastercard in Africa. We are on track to power a $1.5 trillion digital payments market by 2030.”
— Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa, Mastercard
Ghana as a West African Fintech Hub
In Ghana, Mastercard has pursued a partnership-led strategy to deepen financial inclusion. Collaborations with local fintechs including Kalabash, KaiOS, Boost, and Smile ID, alongside partnerships with financial institutions like Access Bank and Fidelity Bank, have expanded cross-border payment solutions and enhanced access to digital services for underserved communities.
The company’s Fintech Forum initiative, hosted annually in Accra, has driven fintech growth and expanded digital and financial inclusion. Through the Mastercard Foundation, the company has also backed the Absa Fintech and Agritech Support Programme, aimed at providing financial and capacity-building support to micro, small, and medium enterprises — targeting 50,000 jobs in Ghana.
SMEs are a particular focus for Mastercard’s 2025 strategy. With consumer spending expected to grow across major African markets, the company launched 15 new SME-focused programmes across Africa in the past 18 months, including collaborations designed to help small businesses accept payments seamlessly, access credit, and strengthen financial resilience.
AI, Agentic Commerce, and the $16.5 Billion Africa AI Market
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Mastercard predicts that technologies including artificial intelligence and “agentic commerce” — where AI agents autonomously complete purchases and payments on behalf of users — will define the next era of commerce in Africa. The company projects Africa’s AI market to reach $16.5 billion by 2030.
For Ghanaians specifically, these developments are materialising through mobile money integration that now facilitates loans, insurance, investments, and utility payments beyond basic transactions. The company notes that with mobile connections across Africa surpassing total population levels, the infrastructure for scale already exists — the challenge is deepening trust and expanding the range of accessible financial products.
In 2026, Mastercard plans to continue advancing financial inclusion across African markets, introducing more locally relevant digital solutions while investing in the infrastructure needed for a more secure and connected African economy. Ghana’s combination of regulatory progress — including the new VASP Act for digital assets and the 24-Hour Economy framework — positions it as an attractive environment for further fintech investment in the year ahead.
