Nairobi-based digital payments startup BitPesa has launched in Ghana, enabling Ghanaians to settle global payments in the local currency, the Ghana Cedi (GHS).

In a press release, the Fintech company stated that its services will allow Ghanaians to make Ghanaian cedi payments that will settle in more than 10 currencies including Nigerian nairas, South Africa rands and Ugandan shillings.

A statement on their website read:

“We’re thrilled to announce that BitPesa is now live in Ghana, offering both traders and businesses a high-speed, low-cost way to make and receive payments to and from anywhere in the world using GHS. In 2015, we expanded from East Africa to West Africa and now look forward to serving new customers in the region by delivering best-in-class products and customer service.”

Having expanded from East Africa across to West Africa in 2015, BitPesa remains dedicated to facilitating intra-Africa trade by increasing the ease and speed of doing business in Ghana. We are now offering new currency pairs, allowing Ghanaians to make GHS payments that settle in more than ten currencies, including NGN, UGX, and ZAR. With our best-in-class products and customer service, BitPesa can significantly lower the cost of payments from Ghana to other important trading partners such as Nigeria. Since Nigeria is a very important market for BitPesa already, Ghana was a natural choice for expansion, as these are the two largest economies in West Africa. The statement said.

The company helps businesses make high-speed and low-cost B2B Payments in multiple currencies across and beyond Africa with operations in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, DRC, the UK and across Europe. As of today in Ghana, customers are able to buy and sell bitcoins on the online platform. Businesses are also able to make payments intra-Africa to Ghanaian mobile accounts. BitPesa is connected to two mobile networks in Ghana now, with more services to come soon.

Ghanaians should be allowed to make global payments using their own currency and we are excited to facilitate this. We will continue to improve service offerings, compliance, and value for our new Ghanaian customers,” said Rossiello

Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of BitPesa, said, “We are constantly looking for ways to promote intra-African trade, so we’re very excited about our services in Ghana. Ghanaians should be allowed to make global payments using their own currency and we are excited to facilitate this. We will continue to improve service offerings, compliance, and value for our new Ghanaian customers.”

Earlier in 2018, BitPesa acquired TransferZero, a leading digital payments company based in Madrid, expanding its footprint across LatAm, the Caribbean, and other frontier markets. Founded in 2013, it focuses on business customers operating in and across its key markets and offers FX, Treasury, and Settlement products via API or live OTC trading.