Onafriq, in collaboration with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), has announced the launch of a new cross-border payment service, initially piloting outbound transactions in Ghana. This initiative operationalizes a partnership established in 2022, aimed at promoting intra-African cross-border trade and enhancing financial inclusion. The service is designed to improve financial interoperability by making transactions faster, more convenient, and cost-effective for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals.

Effective immediately, banks partnering with PAPSS and Onafriq’s authorized fintech, mobile money service providers, and traditional partners in Ghana can enable their customers to send and receive money directly into mobile wallets and bank accounts. The service aims to address existing challenges such as high transaction costs and opaque exchange rates, while integrating informal cross-border transactions into formal payment systems. The primary focus of this new service is on SME and retail transactions.

As part of this pilot, Onafriq is leveraging PAPSS infrastructure and regulatory coverage to offer its fintech, mobile money, and traditional partners in Ghana unparalleled access to cross-border payment capabilities. With a network spanning 43 African markets, Onafriq connects over 1 billion mobile money wallets, 500 million bank accounts, and over 400,000 agents in Nigeria, enabling domestic and cross-border disbursements and collections, card issuing and processing, agency banking, and treasury services.

By participating in this arrangement, these partners benefit from the safeguards and efficiency of PAPSS’s framework. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) serves as the settlement entity, ensuring trusted and timely settlement between parties. PAPSS works in collaboration with Africa’s central banks to provide a payment and settlement service to which commercial banks and licensed payment service providers across the region can connect as ‘Participants’.

Dare Okoudjou, Founder and CEO of Onafriq, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to be taking another step in operationalising our important partnership with PAPSS to bring this innovative cross-border payment solution to our users. This service is not just about convenience; it brings people together and enhances economic activity between Ghana and the region. We are dedicated to making financial services accessible to everyone and are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. African borders are starting to matter less; this is Onafriq’s goal.”

Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS, echoed this enthusiasm, saying, “Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more integrated financial landscape in Africa. Our partnership with Onafriq represents a commitment to empowering SMEs and individuals by simplifying cross-border transactions. We believe this service will help reduce the liquidity burden on participants while fostering financial inclusion across the region.”

The six-month pilot program, approved by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), will allow Onafriq and PAPSS to assess transaction flows, user adoption, and foreign exchange performance while delivering better rates and more accessible services to customers. This launch deepens the long-standing collaboration between Onafriq and PAPSS and reinforces their shared commitment to building infrastructure that empowers African businesses, individuals, and financial institutions across the continent. The service will soon be available on mobile money and other fintech-based wallets.