African payments platform launches new card
Friday, July 04, 2025 | 670 Views |
All for one: African heads of state and other leaders officially launch the PAPSSCARD in Abuja
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is a centralised platform that enables participating African countries and their currencies to make payments across the continent’s borders, without the added costs of conversion to hard currencies, particularly the dollar.
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.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...