Flutterwave gains approval for remittance services in Ghana, paving the way for enhanced financial inclusion. South Africa is exploring e-voting, with public interest emerging. Elon Musk links a cyberattack on X to Ukraine, but experts point to a hacker group. The global smartphone market sees a rebound, growing by 7% in 2024.
This week, Flutterwave has achieved a significant milestone by securing approval from the Bank of Ghana to offer inward remittance services. This development will enable Ghanaians to conveniently receive funds from abroad, thus enhancing the mobile money ecosystem within the nation. The company’s CEO, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola remarked that this advancement is instrumental for financial inclusion, allowing diaspora members to transfer money back home with greater efficiency.
Flutterwave’s recent success is part of its broader regulatory achievements; the company obtained a Payment Service Provider license in Ghana last year and received approval to operate in Zambia just last month. With operations in over 35 countries, Flutterwave continues to broaden its presence in Africa’s fintech landscape. Concurrently, there are discussions in Nigeria regarding the company’s potential listing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), which would position Flutterwave among the largest firms in the exchange.
In a potential electoral evolution, South Africa is contemplating the introduction of electronic voting (e-voting). Preliminary studies indicate that 79% of South African citizens might be more inclined to vote if e-voting were available. The Electoral Commission is currently in exploratory discussions, weighing the nation’s digital capabilities, costs, and public readiness for such a transition.
Proponents of e-voting argue that it could reduce wait times, expedite results, and enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities. However, critical challenges, such as cybersecurity threats and technical failures, must be addressed to ensure equitable access for all voters. Should South Africa proceed, it would join countries like Egypt, which has adopted e-voting to improve electoral processes.
In technology news, a recent outage on X (formerly Twitter) raised questions among users globally. Elon Musk attributed the disruption to a cyberattack, suggesting involvement from Ukraine. However, cybersecurity analysts have pointed towards The Dark Storm Team, a pro-Palestinian hacker collective, as the culprits behind the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that compromised the platform.
Furthermore, The Dark Storm Team is part of a broader spectrum of hacker groups actively engaging in cyber-attacks, including targeting international entities. Their escalating cyber activities underscore the growing complexity of cybersecurity in the digital age.
In business insights, the global smartphone market showed signs of recovery, growing by 7% in 2024, totaling 1.22 billion units sold. While both Apple and Samsung faced minor declines, other companies like Xiaomi and TRANSSION exhibited significant growth, illustrating a dynamic shift in the competitive landscape.
In summary, Flutterwave’s recent approval to provide inward remittance services in Ghana marks a significant step towards enhancing financial inclusion in the region. Meanwhile, South Africa considers e-voting as a modern electoral option, despite potential challenges. On a different note, Elon Musk’s allegations regarding a cyberattack on X reveal contrasting narratives from cybersecurity experts, highlighting the complexities of digital security. Finally, the recovery of the global smartphone market indicates positive trends in consumer technology.
Original Source: thecondia.com
