Ghana is moving closer to launching the Akuna Wallet, a blockchain-based payments platform for creators and freelancers, through a collaboration with the Stellar Development Foundation. Discussions between the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and Stellar CEO Denelle Dixon focused on strategies to integrate the wallet into the country’s financial ecosystem.
Akuna Wallet is a digital payments platform co-founded by actor Idris Elba, designed to simplify cross-border payments for creators, freelancers, and small businesses. The wallet allows users to receive payments in U.S. dollars instantly, hold virtual U.S. bank accounts, and convert funds into Ghana cedis seamlessly. By leveraging Stellar’s blockchain infrastructure, transactions are secured, transparent, and processed quickly, reducing delays and fees often associated with traditional banking.
Minister Samuel Nartey George highlighted that the initiative “aligns perfectly with our vision to empower the creative economy through technology and financial inclusion.” He confirmed that the Ministry will collaborate with the Bank of Ghana and local partners to pilot the platform and evaluate its impact before a nationwide rollout.
Denelle Dixon explained that the wallet includes features such as invoicing and payment tracking tools, enabling freelancers to request payments from international platforms like TikTok, X, and Facebook. Users can also send funds directly to other wallet holders, making local and cross-border transactions smoother and faster. The upcoming commercial launch is scheduled for December 2025, pending regulatory clearance from the Bank of Ghana.
Akuna Wallet aims to provide Ghanaian creators with direct access to global financial networks while reducing reliance on intermediaries. Its focus on speed, transparency, and integration with international platforms positions it as one of the first solutions in Africa that fully merges blockchain technology with creative economy payments.
The next steps include technical integration, pilot testing, and regulatory review. If successful, Akuna Wallet could redefine how digital freelancers and content creators in Ghana receive and manage payments, creating new opportunities for the country’s growing creative and digital economy.
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