Hello guys,
Did You Know? 5 Million Ghanaians remain financially excluded due to literacy barriers—one startup is changing that. In a country where 28% of adults struggle with basic literacy and 38% lack access to formal banking, digital payments often exclude those who need them most.
Enter Kowri, the Ghanaian fintech breaking down barriers with its revolutionary voice-powered payment solution, enabling transactions through simple spoken commands in Twi, Ga, and English.
This isn’t just convenience—it’s financial inclusion reimagined. But that’s not all in this edition:
- Zeepay secures $18 million in debt to finance its working capital and drive growth.
- MEST Africa selects 12 startups for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program.
- Kowri launches a voice-activated solution to simplify mobile payments.
- DrDoGood partners with Father’s House Community Chapel to provide free health screening to over 1,000 people.
- Ghana Banks, SDIs, and Fintechs lost almost GHS 100 million to fraud in 2024.
- The Bank of Ghana set to regulate virtual assets platforms in September.
- Chowdeck goes live in Accra, delivering across key neighbourhoods.
Accelerator & Incubator
MEST Africa selects 12 startups for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program.
Twelve Ghanaian education technology startups have been chosen for the second cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program, following the success of the first cohort, which reached over 136,798 learners during its acceleration phase.
The selected companies—Craft Education, STEMAIDE, Nikasemo Technologies, ASANKA (TECHAiDE), Metaschool AI, Scribble Works, Academic Talent Development Program, Jesi AI, MooslaTrain, Maxim Nyansa, InovTech STEM Center, and Asah Maker-Space—are tackling diverse challenges in education, from AI-powered learning tools and offline digital solutions to STEM training for underserved youth and specialized support for children with disabilities.
Funding
Zeepay secures $18 million in debt to finance its working capital and drive growth.
Zeepay, a fast-growing player in the digital remittance and mobile money market, has secured $18 million in debt funding, according to a report by Africa Global Funds. The South Africa-based financial advisory firm, Verdant IMAP, arranged the investment.
The investment, structured as senior secured debt, provides Zeepay with crucial working capital to support its float financing operations across its mobile money and cross-border payment solutions.
Product launch
Kowri launched a voice-activated solution to simplify mobile payments.
Kowri, the payment service provider, has launched a voice-activated mobile payment solution that enables transactions through simple voice commands. The innovative feature, accessible via the mobile app, supports both English and local languages, such as Twi and Ga, and enables users to execute financial transactions, including checking balances and managing their accounts. The solution breaks down digital barriers, making financial management more inclusive and effortless for everyone.
The company will also extend this feature to merchants, enabling their customers to pay them directly with voice.
DrDoGood partners with Father’s House Community Chapel to provide free health screening to over 1,000 people.
On April 19, 2025, DrDoGood and Father’s House Community Chapel hosted a free health outreach at Manmomo AstroTurf in Adentan, Accra, providing screenings and medical consultations to over 1,000 residents. Services included blood pressure checks, glucose testing, BMI analysis, and consultations with healthcare professionals.
DrDoGood also piloted its VOIP consultation technology during the event, enabling participants to access follow-up care remotely. To support this, GHS 75,000 in consultation credits were distributed. The system’s AI-powered engine matched patients with the most suitable available doctors, ensuring faster, more personalized care.
Chowdeck goes live in Accra, delivering across key neighbourhoods.
Chowdeck, one of Nigeria’s leading food delivery startups, has officially gone live in Ghana. The four-year-old company, which claims to have reached one million users and ₦30 billion (≈ $19 million) in transactions in 2024, is now bringing its fast and reliable service to Accra.
Customers can order from their favourite restaurants across key neighbourhoods, including Osu, Labone, Airport, Cantonments, Dzorwulu, East Legon, Madina, and Adenta.
Policy
Ghana Banks, SDIs, and Fintechs lost almost GHS 100 million to fraud in 2024.
Over GH¢99 million was fraud in 2024, according to the Bank of Ghana’s annual Fraud Report, with commercial banks bearing the heaviest losses at GH¢75 million—a 19% increase driven by sophisticated document forgery scams, including a single GH¢53.5 million case. While digital payment fraud surged (89% rise in ATM/POS scams costing fintechs GH¢19 million), rural banks still struggled with cash theft, and insider threats grew alarmingly with 365 staff implicated—though only 43% were dismissed. The central bank has responded with stricter authentication rules and prosecution mandates, warning that Ghana’s rapid digital financial inclusion demands stronger safeguards against evolving fraud tactics that now outpace traditional theft methods.
The Bank of Ghana set to regulate virtual assets platforms in September.
Ghana’s central bank governor, Dr. Johnson Asiama, has announced that the Bank of Ghana will begin regulating cryptocurrencies and virtual-asset platforms by September 2025, once Parliament passes the Virtual Asset Providers Act. This act will empower the central bank to license and oversee exchanges, wallets, and other service providers. To support this initiative, the bank is establishing a dedicated digital assets unit to monitor activity, enforce compliance, and protect consumers.
Until next time
Adios
GIJ team
About the Author
Staff Reporter
Staff writer at Ghana Innovation Journal covering innovation, technology and entrepreneurship across Ghana and Africa.