Minister Samuel Nartey George engages Stellar Development Foundation on Akuna Wallet rollout to expand financial inclusion for Ghana’s creative sector

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), has held a strategic meeting with Ms Denelle Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), to discuss the national rollout of the Akuna Wallet, a new blockchain-powered digital payment platform aimed at boosting financial inclusion and supporting Ghana’s creative economy.

The meeting focused on how the Ministry could collaborate with SDF and the Akuna Group, co-founded by actor Idris Elba, to deliver seamless global payment solutions for Ghanaian creators and digital entrepreneurs.

Hon. George commended the initiative and affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to support pilot testing with local content creators, noting that the platform aligns with government’s digital transformation agenda.

He emphasised that the Akuna Wallet has strong potential to enhance financial access for young creatives, stimulate economic activity, and strengthen Ghana’s digital economy. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision to empower the creative economy through technology and financial inclusion.

We will work closely with the Bank of Ghana and other key stakeholders to assess the system’s performance and explore opportunities for integration,” he said.

Ms. Denelle Dixon explained that the Akuna Wallet, developed under the supervision of the Bank of Ghana, enables content creators and freelancers to receive international payments within seconds and convert them into Ghana cedis through a secure blockchain-based platform. The system operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank of Ghana.

She added that every user receives a virtual U.S. bank account connected to global payment networks, allowing creators to receive funds directly from international companies and digital platforms.

The wallet also incorporates invoicing tools, giving freelancers the ability to bill global clients and redeem payments instantly in local currency. It further allows creators to monetise content on platforms such as X, Facebook, and TikTok without intermediaries like PayPal.

Ms. Dixon noted that the Akuna Wallet forms part of a larger creative and digital ecosystem comprising Akuna Studios and Akuna Pods, with full rollout expected by December 2025 pending regulatory approval.

The initiative has drawn interest across Ghana’s digital and technology ecosystem, including institutions such as the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Cyber Security Authority, Ghana Domain Name Registry, Ghana Digital Centres, GIFEC, GIZ Ghana, the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), among others.