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About Kwami Ahabenu

 Kwami Ahiabenu is a Ghanaian technologist, media consultant, and advocate for digital rights and journalism. He is recognized for his work in the areas of technology, media, and development in Africa, particularly in promoting the use of digital tools to enhance journalism and civic engagement. Ahiabenu is the founder and president of *Penplusbytes*, an organization focused on using technology to advance journalism and empower media professionals in Africa. Under his leadership, Penplusbytes has become a significant player in the field of media innovation, providing training, research, and advocacy on issues related to digital media, data journalism, and e-governance. He has also been involved in several initiatives that aim to improve transparency, accountability, and governance through the use of digital tools. Ahiabenu's work has earned him recognition as a leading figure in the intersection of technology and media in Africa. He is a frequent speaker and contributor on topics r
Recent posts

How soft POS is revolutionizing payment systems

  By Kwami Ahiabenu (PhD) Point of Sale (POS) is a backbone of modern payment systems.  Every day, around the world, billions of transactions run through POS as consumers pay for goods and services. However, millions of micro, small and medium-sized businesses globally cannot accept electronic payments. SoftPOS is opening doors for these businesses to receive payments, promoting payment processing democratization. The history of POS dates back to 1879, when the first POS system was invented in Ohio, USA, by a saloon owner called James Ritty; he designed this cash register to ensure error-free recording of transactions, leading to better bookkeeping and cash management. In 1884, the National Cash Register Corporation (NCR) bought this invention from Ritty. Over the years, POS has grown into a sophisticated system which oils the wheels of commerce by ensuring consumers can pay merchants seamlessly and integrate with other business systems such as customer relationship management (CRM), e

Call for Papers : Ghana Artificial Intelligence Summit and Awards Night

  Event Date: March 27th, 2025 Theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development : Hype or Reality?" Organizers: Knowledge Innovations and Partners   Overview:   Ghana's inaugural Artificial Intelligence Summit and Awards Night is poised to be a pioneering event in the country's technological landscape. Hosted by Knowledge Innovations and Partners, the summit aims to explore the multifaceted role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving sustainable development across various sectors. From economic growth to ethical considerations, from entrepreneurship to the future of work, the summit promises to be an enriching platform for thought leaders, innovators, and stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.     Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:     ●        Artificial Intelligence and Economic Growth: Exploring how AI can catalyze economic development, foster innovation, and enhance productivity across industries. ●        Ethical an

The Views of Regulators Around the World: A Systematic Review of Central Bank’s Official Publications on CBDC

  Chapter 3   Source Title:  Global Developments in Central Bank Digital Currency https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5588-6.ch003 Kwami Ahiabenu https:// orcid .org/ 0000 -0002 -8254 -3214 Global Centre for Fintech Innovations, Canada Sunday Adewale Olaleye https:// orcid .org/ 0000 -0002 -0266 -3989 Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland ABSTRACT In discussing the future of money and financial systems, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are  now dominating the discourse; hence, understanding the perspectives of regulators, particularly central  banks, and monetary authorities, is paramount in comprehending the global landscape of CBDC adoption  and regulation. This chapter presents a systematic literature review of official publications published by central banks worldwide by synthesizing regulators' perspectives on CBDCs across different jurisdictions. This chapter synthesizes vital themes, trends, and insights about CBDCs by comprehensively analyzing centra

The democratization of digital currency in Nigeria: A sentiment analysis of eNaira app usability

  Sunday Adewale Olaleye       Kwami Ahiabenu      &  Olugbenga Ayo Ojubanire   Globally, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is receiving a lot of attention in digital currency deliberations since it is at the top of the agenda of almost every central bank today. Although there is a growing body of literature on CBDCs, user perspectives on their usage and adoption in the literature are very sparse. This study set out to analyze factors impacting the actual usage of CBDC through sentiment analysis of eNaira, the first CBDC to be issued in Africa by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The research relies on the 214 data points extracted from eNaira App users’ comments from Google Play and App Store from 2020 to 2021. It framed its analysis based on theories of moral sentiments and appraisal theory of emotion. This research shows that eNaira users faced multiple challenges; however, CBN's responses to these challenges are minimal. The results highlighted the need to include publi

What is Telematic insurance?

By Kwami Ahiabenu  Insurance ensures risk mitigation. The history of insurance dates back thousands of years with its origin in risk-sharing and mutual aid. In recent years technology is impacting all aspects of our society and insurance is not an exception. The Insurtech market is awash with a lot of products and services with personalization being the driving force. One of the innovative insurance products is known as insurance telematics which is premised on a usage-based insurance approach. This includes packages like Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD), Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD) and Pay-Per-Trip (PPT) auto insurance. These sorts of insurance premiums are not fixed such as an annual or monthly amount but consist of a flexible amount. The global market for insurance telematics is estimated at US$3 Billion in the year 2022, projected value of US$13.1 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20percent over the analysis period 2022-2030 (ResearchAndMarkets.com). Tradition

Global Centre for Fintech Innovations to Participate in Collision 2024: Showcasing Cutting-Edge Fintech Solutions

Global Centre for Fintech Innovations to Participate in Collision 2024: Showcasing Cutting-Edge Fintech Solutions The Global Centre for Fintech Innovations is thrilled to announce its participation in Collision 2024, one of the premier technology conferences globally, set to take place in Toronto, June 17-20, 2024 at Enercare Centre. Collision brings together the brightest minds and the most innovative companies in the tech industry, creating a vibrant platform for networking, learning, and showcasing groundbreaking technologies. Collision, known for its dynamic environment and diverse attendee base, will host thousands of tech enthusiasts, industry leaders, and innovators. The Global Centre for Fintech Innovations is excited to be part of this transformative event, presenting its latest advancements in fintech that are poised to redefine the financial technology landscape. Dr. Kwami Ahiabenu, Director of the Global Centre for Fintech Innovations, shared his enthusiasm about the event

What is Peer to Peer (P2P) lending?

  Kwami Ahiabenu ll Before banking or financial systems, individuals provided either cash or an item to another individual within an arrangement that the borrower would return said cash or item to the lender with or without interest in the future. Peer to Peer lending occurs when a lender and borrower transact business without the role of any intermediary. P2P lending differs from traditional lending whereby a financial institution serves as an intermediary, mobilising capital from its client base and lending.The fast-paced fintech innovation has driven peer-to-peer lending. According to  The Business Research Company,  global P2P lending is valued at US$143.64billion in 2023. Peer-to-Peer lending is categorised into: Informal P2P lending  — wherein an individual within a circle of friends or colleagues requests a loan, usually through face-to-face interaction or phone call. The transaction is usually undocumented and trust-based — on the network’s ability to influence the behaviour of

What is a Robo-Advisor?

Kwami Ahiabenu ll Investment is not an easy journey. The complexity of investment instruments, coupled with multiple investment offerings means a typical investor is faced with a maze to navigate when it comes to the decision-making process in terms of what investment options to consider, duration of the investment, risk analysis, types of investment portfolio and opportunities to consider. Traditionally, investment advisors play a crucial role in helping prospective investors make decisions on investment options which can lead to optimum investment decisions. In a fast-growing digital age where innovations in the financial sector are the norm, coupled with the rise of emerging technologies, especially big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning have given birth to Robo-advisors. A Robo-advisor can be described as a computer application that is based on an automated analytics processing system that combines algorithms, including machine learning, with big data to generate a