A digital wallet built to solve one of Africa’s most persistent financial problems getting paid has quietly entered Ghana’s regulatory system and begun supervised testing.
Akuna Wallet, developed through a partnership between the Akuna Group co-founded by British-Sierra Leonean actor Idris Elba and the Stellar Development Foundation, has been admitted into the Bank of Ghana’s Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) Regulatory Sandbox.
The project entered the sandbox in early 2026. Supervised testing began in February. A broader public rollout is planned later this year, pending full regulatory approval.
The platform targets a straightforward but costly problem. Digital creators, freelancers, and online entrepreneurs across Ghana earn money from global platforms. However, receiving that money is often expensive, slow, and sometimes impossible.
A Participation Tax on African Creators
Sending money to Sub-Saharan Africa costs an average of 8.8% of the amount transferred. That is nearly three times the 3% target set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
For a creator earning $1,000 from a platform such as YouTube, TikTok, or a global client, roughly $90 disappears in fees simply to access their own income.
The challenge goes beyond transaction costs.
Many international monetisation platforms require a bank account connected to global payment networks. That requirement excludes the majority of Ghanaian creators.
Even those who manage to receive payments often rely on intermediaries such as PayPal. These services can consume up to 30% of earnings through conversion and transfer charges.
Ghanaian DJ and producer Vyrusky described the reality artists face when working across borders.
When an executive producer in London wants to fund promotion in Ghana, the payment process can take one to two weeks before the money actually arrives.
“You need someone in Ghana who has that amount sitting in accounts,” he said.
How Akuna Wallet Works
Akuna Wallet runs on the Stellar blockchain network, which was designed specifically for cross-border financial transfers.
Transactions on Stellar typically settle within seconds. The cost is also far lower than traditional bank transfers.
The platform assigns each user a virtual US bank account. This allows them to connect directly to international monetisation platforms. Previously, many Ghanaian creators could not open the accounts required to access those systems.
Creators can receive payments from anywhere in the world. They can hold digital value inside the wallet and convert funds into Ghana cedis when needed.
The platform also includes invoicing tools. Freelancers can bill global clients and receive payment directly in local currency.
| Feature | Purpose |
| Virtual US bank account | Access global platforms that previously excluded Ghanaian creators |
| Stellar blockchain rails | Near-instant cross-border settlement at low cost |
| Cedi conversion | Receive and hold international earnings in local currency |
| Invoicing tools | Bill global clients and receive payment directly |
Inside the Regulatory Sandbox
Akuna is among the first companies admitted into the Bank of Ghana’s VASP regulatory sandbox.
The sandbox was created under the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, which Ghana passed in December 2025.
Within the sandbox, companies operate under regulatory supervision. They must meet strict standards covering risk management, security, and compliance before applying for a full operating licence.
Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, has emphasized the importance of working inside regulatory systems.
“You can’t build trusted financial infrastructure outside of regulatory frameworks,” Dixon said.
“Working within the Bank of Ghana’s sandbox is exactly how we intend to do this transparently, collaboratively, and with accountability.”
Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has also engaged directly with the project.
Minister Samuel Nartey George met with Dixon in Accra to discuss the rollout. He also committed the Ministry’s support for pilot testing with local content creators.
“This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision to empower the creative economy through technology and financial inclusion,” the Minister said.
The Scale of the Opportunity
Africa’s creator economy is currently valued at roughly $5 billion. Analysts expect it to grow to $18 billion by 2030.
Despite Africa representing 18% of the world’s population, the continent captures less than 1% of the $240 billion global creative economy.
According to Goldman Sachs, that global market could reach nearly $530 billion by 2027.
UNESCO estimates that Africa’s film and audiovisual industry alone could generate 20 million jobs. It could also contribute $20 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2030. However, those projections depend heavily on improving payment infrastructure.
Ghana’s demographics highlight the opportunity.
Nearly 60% of the population is under 25. This generation grew up creating and consuming digital content. Yet many lack the financial tools needed to monetise their work globally.
Akuna Wallet is part of a broader ecosystem that includes Akuna Studios and Akuna Pods. Together, these initiatives aim to build infrastructure for the creative industry.
The project is therefore positioned as more than just a payments application. It is intended to support the development of an entire digital creative economy.
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