MoMo Fintech Lab has held a bootcamp in Tamale as part of efforts to promote financial technology innovation, digital inclusion and entrepreneurship in Ghana’s Northern Zone.
The initiative is expected to provide participants with opportunities to explore emerging trends in financial technology, deepen their understanding of digital financial services and identify innovative solutions to challenges within the financial ecosystem.
The bootcamp also serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and capacity-building among participants, particularly young entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts and innovators seeking to develop solutions that address real-world financial needs.
Through practical sessions, expert guidance and interactive engagements, the programme aims to equip participants with relevant skills and insights to take advantage of opportunities in the rapidly evolving fintech industry.
The Northern Zone bootcamp underscores the importance of expanding access to digital innovation beyond Ghana’s major commercial centres and creating opportunities for talent development across the country.
By engaging stakeholders in Tamale, MoMo Fintech Lab is contributing to efforts to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem, encourage entrepreneurship and support the development of technology-driven solutions capable of advancing financial inclusion and economic growth.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu, in a remark commended MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MMFL) for championing youth innovation through technology.
Prof. Iddrisu made the remarks when the CEO of MMFL, Shaibu Haruna, led executives and participants of the MoMo Fintech Lab on a courtesy call on the university as part of activities to close the Northern Zone Bootcamp in Tamale on Friday, October 23, 2026.
He said platforms such as the Fintech Lab give students a practical avenue to test their creativity, knowledge and problem-solving abilities, and pledged to encourage more UDS students to participate in future editions.
The team also paid a courtesy call on the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, who praised MMFL for its role in deepening financial inclusion in Ghana.
While lauding the initiative, the Minister raised concerns about rising loan defaults within the mobile money ecosystem and urged stronger education and safeguards. He welcomed the Fintech Lab programme and assured the region’s support.
The bootcamp concluded with a keenly contested Zonal Pitch Competition at the Twin Oval Auditorium, UDS Central Campus.
Twelve teams pitched their innovations to a panel of experts, with four teams emerging as standouts: MoMo Covert, PayitBetta, MoMoneyo and Adaashi.
The four will now progress to the National Mentorship Lab, where they will receive intensive coaching to refine their products into viable, market-ready solutions.
National Rollout Gains Momentum
The Northern Zone bootcamp marks the start of the nationwide phase of the 2026 MoMo Fintech Lab. The competition began in Tamale from October 19-23, moves to Kumasi from October 26-30, and climaxes in Accra from November 2-6, 2026.
According to MMFL, shortlisted innovators at each zonal stop will undergo hands-on training, mentorship and business modelling sessions before pitching to expert judges.
The journey will culminate in a National Demo Day on December 3, 2026, where finalists will compete for cash prizes of up to GHS100,000, digital devices and incubation support.
This year’s edition attracted over 1,700 entries from across the country, underlining the appetite for homegrown fintech solutions that address real-life challenges and expand access to finance.
Interestingly, entries show clear regional innovation trends. In the Northern Zone, agriculture-driven fintech dominated, with ideas focused on supporting farmers and strengthening agric value chains.
In the Middle Zone, centred on Kumasi, most ideas target SMEs and merchants, aiming to digitize operations and drive business growth. In the Southern Zone, payment solutions lead, focusing on faster, simpler and more inclusive digital transactions.
At the end of the zonal stage, 12 teams will be selected for the national phase.
CEO of MMFL, Shaibu Haruna, said the response reflects Ghana’s huge innovation potential:
“More than 1,700 entries send a powerful message: Ghana has the talent and ambition to build solutions for its most pressing challenges. From agriculture in the North and SME growth in the Middle Belt to payment innovation in the South, these ideas reflect the realities of our economy. Our goal is to help innovators turn that promise into scalable solutions that create meaningful impact.”
Beyond the prizes, the Lab will equip participants with technical, leadership and commercial skills, and connect them to mentors, banks and tech firms to help scale their solutions.
The 2026 MoMo Fintech Lab is being organized in partnership with the Bank of Ghana and supported by GCB Bank, Hubtel, appsNmobile, Zenith Bank, First National Bank, Blue Penguin, Korba, Fidelity Bank, Afrifanom (VaMiJo) and JUMO.
