NALA, one of Africa’s largest fintechs, has received regulatory approval to operate remittance services in Ghana, marking a key milestone in the company’s expansion across the continent.
The company announced that the Bank of Ghana has issued a Letter of No Objection (LONO), allowing NALA, in partnership with its licensed local affiliate BigPay, to formally begin processing cross-border payments in the country.
The approval positions NALA to strengthen its presence in one of West Africa’s busiest remittance corridors. NALA says its market entry is aimed at improving transparency, reducing costs, and delivering faster, more secure transfers.
“At NALA, we believe financial infrastructure must be built alongside trusted licensed institutions. BigPay’s capabilities and reputation make them a natural partner for our mission,” Benjamin Fernandes, NALA’s founder and CEO, said.
Partnership with BigPay Enables Local Access
NALA’s partnership with BigPay is central to the launch. As a licensed Payment Service Provider in Ghana, BigPay provides the infrastructure that enables NALA to deliver payouts directly to local banks and mobile money wallets.
BigPay’s platform, which features bank-grade APIs and settlement capabilities, ensures quick, compliant processing of transactions within Ghana’s national financial system.
This allows NALA to offer transparent, secure, and faster transfers, addressing persistent inefficiencies in cross-border remittances.
According to the World Bank, Africa received $96.4 billion in international transfers in 2024, underscoring the scale and potential impact of faster, lower-cost payment solutions.
Strategic Expansion Aligned with Compliance
Benjamin Fernandes, described the regulatory approval as a validation of the company’s long-term approach to working alongside regulators and established financial institutions.
According to him, building trust and staying compliant across markets has been core to NALA’s expansion across Africa and other regions.
“With this approval, we’re not just expanding access, we’re strengthening the resilience, transparency, and inclusivity of Ghana’s financial ecosystem,” Fernandes said.
BigPay’s Managing Director, Isaac Tetteh, said the collaboration positions both companies to deliver more customer-centric financial services to Ghanaians.
“At BigPay, we are committed to powering innovation through strong partnerships, and NALA’s vision aligns perfectly with our mission to deepen financial inclusion and expand digital payment capabilities across Ghana,” he said.
“We are excited about the growth possibilities ahead and look forward to delivering real value to customers through this collaboration,” he said.
Part of a Global Expansion Strategy
The Bank of Ghana’s approval arrives amid a surge of innovation in the country’s fintech sector and growing interest from international players.
For NALA, the licence adds to an expanding portfolio of regulatory permissions across the US, UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The company operates both a consumer-facing money transfer app and a B2B platform, Rafiki, which enables enterprises to make payments into and out of African markets via a single API.
With its latest approval, NALA aims to enhance reliability and transparency in international transfers to Ghana, while contributing to a more interconnected African payments landscape.
As cross-border payments continue to grow, analysts say partnerships like NALA and BigPay’s illustrate how fintech innovation can combine speed, security, and compliance to strengthen financial inclusion. The move also signals that Ghana remains a strategic hub for remittance and digital payment services in West Africa.
Talking Points
It is impressive that NALA has secured regulatory approval to operate remittance services in Ghana, addressing a major barrier many Africans face: high costs, slow transfers, and limited transparency in cross-border payments.
This approval, coupled with its partnership with BigPay, positions NALA to deliver faster, more secure remittances directly to local banks and mobile wallets, improving the customer experience for both individuals and businesses.
At Techparley, we see how tools like this can accelerate financial inclusion, particularly in markets where traditional remittance channels are inefficient or expensive. By integrating licensed local infrastructure with an international fintech platform, NALA can bring measurable value to underserved communities.
The combination of regulatory compliance, local partner capabilities, and user-friendly digital interfaces means Ghanaians can now access international transfers with the same reliability and speed expected in mature markets.
As NALA scales across Ghana and other African markets, partnerships like BigPay will be key to accelerating adoption and deepening its footprint. With the right strategic support, NALA has the potential to become a catalyst for transparent, inclusive, and efficient cross-border financial services across the continent.
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