She Left Guaranty Trust Bank to Build the Future of West African Agriculture | Mathila Soumahoro

Dismantling Barriers to Financial Service Infrastructure w/ SAMUEL AMANOR | The Discourse Diaries.

Take a listen to this in-depth conversation with Samuel Amanor, CEO and Founder of Bluespace Financial Cloud, as he explains how his company is building the essential fintech supply chain that enables banks, Fintechs, and Insurance Companies to thrive and make financial services accessible.In this exclusive interview, Samuel breaks down Bluespace's offering into three core components: 1. Product Development (Fintech as a Service): A ready-made recipe for innovation, providing the tools and services needed to build cutting-edge fintech products. 2. Financial Operations: Comprehensive back-office solutions—think of it as the operational tasks in a bustling restaurant—ensuring smooth financial processes. 3. Financial Infrastructure: A robust foundation that includes cloud technology, API security, and cyber security measures, much like the building and kitchen of a restaurant, to keep fintech systems secure and reliable. Samuel also discusses the dynamic growth of Africa’s fintech ecosystem, tracing its evolution from traditional banking and telco-based mobile money services to specialized solutions like cross-border payments. He highlights the trend of embedding financial services into sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and hospitality, while also addressing the resistance to new digital financial services due to fraud concerns. Emphasizing that security is a fundamental consideration in every aspect of their design, Samuel explains how continuous innovation in security controls is crucial to counter emerging threats, especially those amplified by AI. He also underlines the importance of increased financial literacy to help users understand both the benefits and risks of digital financial technologies. Listen now to learn how Bluespace Financial Cloud is paving the way for a more secure and accessible digital financial future in Ghana and beyond! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into fintech innovation and digital finance. #Fintech #DigitalFinance #GhanaFintech #CyberSecurity #Innovation#AfricaDiscourseChannel #DiscourseChannel #ADC

She Left Guaranty Trust Bank to Build the Future of West African Agriculture | Mathila Soumahoro

On this Episode of the Discourse channel's African Voices of Impact from the Financing Agribusiness in Africa Forum organised by the EU–Africa Chamber of Commerce, we sat down for a candid conversation with Mathila Soumahoro — an Ivorian-American who left banking to build a 137-acre agribusiness and a hotel in her home village of Tuba.In this interview, Mathila explains: * Why she swapped a successful banking career (she helped establish the Guaranty Trust Bank franchise in Ivory Coast) for farming and food transformation. * The frustration that drove her: cocoa farmers who never taste chocolate, and the high cost of imported produce that makes healthy food unaffordable. * How a hotel project (2017–2018) led naturally to farming to supply its restaurant — and how a “small plot” became 137 acres producing corn, okra, eggplant, pimentos and fish (aquaponics). * Her focus on value-chain integration: drying, grinding and packaging okra, plans to transform corn rather than sell raw, and the larger vision of local transformation. * The human side: employing women from three villages, training staff, and the challenges of recruitment and retention. * Technology & rigor in modern farming: drones, precision treatments, and the science behind production cycles.Funding ask and scale: Mathila is seeking serious, low-cost capital (US$860,000, alongside her equity) to scale an aquaponics project that targets mass fish production — part of her ambition to become the “queen of agribusiness.” Watch the full interview to hear Mathila lessons on resilience, community impact, and how value-addition can change agricultural economics in West Africa.Subscribe to the Africa Discourse Channel and join the conversation. www.discoursechannel.com #AfricanAgribusiness #IvoryCoast #Agripreneur #ValueAddition #Aquaponics #EUACC #AfricaDiscourseChannel #DiscourseChannel #adc

Unlocking Digital Lending Resilience w/ PHILIP TWUM | The Discourse Diaries.

On this episode of the Discourse Diaries, Philip Twum, Head of Business Development at Fido, reveals how the company tackles the challenges of digital lending in Ghana. Discover how Fido’s proprietary AI-powered credit scoring system—the "Fido Score"—serves as their secret sauce. Built on more than 10 advanced AI models, the Fido Score evaluates borrowers without relying on traditional financial histories, helping Fido reach a wider customer base while identifying reliable loan candidates.Philip also explains Fido’s innovative, non-physical approach to debt collection. With 11 years of experience, Fido has developed bespoke, data-driven methods to follow up with customers—ensuring responsible lending practices without abusive tactics.Listen to learn how Fido mitigates risks, promotes financial literacy through transparency, and empowers individuals and entrepreneurs who might otherwise be excluded from traditional banking.#AfricaDiscourseChannel #DiscourseChannel #ADC

Enabling Africa's Fintech Innovation | w/ TUNJI ODUMUBONI; Co-Founder BAZARA | The Discourse Diaries.

Join our hosts, Yaa Essuamaah Afran-Okese and Richard Joseph as they uncover the compelling stories that are shaping Africa's Financial Technology Industry with a special focus on Ghana's Financial and Payment Landscape.In this exclusive interview, Tunji Odumuboni, Co-Founder and CPTO of Bazara, shares his personal journey and genuine insights into the evolving Ghanaian Financial Technology scene and highlights the key players driving its growth.ABOUT BAZARA:Bazara is a premier software engineering company dedicated to delivering innovative and tailored digital solutions that help businesses transform and thrive. With a team of experts combining deep technical expertise and business insight, they empower enterprises to navigate the digital age with confidence.Backed by 100+ years of combined leadership experience, 30+ successfully executed projects, and a presence across 6+ countries, Bazara stands at the forefront of software innovation.The company's vision is to empower global enterprises to shape an impactful future through cutting-edge technologies. Their mission is to be a leading B2B software engineering company in our chosen markets, driving growth and success through innovation.#AfricaDiscourseChannel #DiscourseChannel #GhanaFintechAwards #finance #fintech Discover the stories behind the innovation and get inspired by the real people driving change in the industry.

The Gap: Building Digital Trust and Fintech Security w/ ABUBAKAR ISAKA | The Discourse Diaries

Ever wondered why Ghana’s cutting-edge Financial Technology (Fintech) Industry still struggles to earn public trust? Join us for an engaging conversation with Abubakar Isaka, President of the Cyber Security Expert Association of Ghana, as he unpacks the state and challenges of digital finance security in Ghana.In this candid discourse, Abubakar breaks down the 50/50 reality where robust fintech technology is held back by low public awareness of cybersecurity. Discover the insights behind Ghana’s cybersecurity ranking and why a critical gap in citizen understanding persists.Abubakar also introduces the bold ICE Campaign; an ambitious initiative designed to boost cybersecurity education across government, private sectors, and the general public. We explore how the Cyber Security Authority and the Bank of Ghana are playing key roles in regulating fintech and driving awareness.This podcast is your front-row seat to see how Ghana is tackling these challenges and building trust in its digital financial future!Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into digital finance and cybersecurity!#africadiscoursechannel #DiscourseChannel #ADC #cybersecurity #finance #financialeducation