MobileMoney LTD (MML) has delivered a commanding performance on the continental stage, emerging as one of the biggest winners at the MTN Group Global Leadership Gathering (GLG) 2026 and reinforcing Ghana’s growing dominance in digital financial services.
The company scooped some of the most prestigious awards at the high-level forum, with its Chief Executive Officer, Shaibu Haruna, crowned Fintech CEO of the Year.
You might also like
In a further testament to his leadership, Shaibu was also named first runner-up in the fiercely contested Overall CEO of the Year category — cementing his reputation as one of the most impactful and results-driven executives across the MTN Group’s footprint.
In addition to the individual accolades, MML secured the coveted Million Dollar Challenge Award for Connectivity for Fintech, while also being recognised as the Largest and Most Valuable Platform for Fintech within the Group.
The dual institutional awards underscore the scale, resilience and strategic importance of Ghana’s mobile money ecosystem in MTN’s broader continental operations.
A transformative era
For Shaibu, the Fintech CEO of the Year recognition marks the culmination of what industry watchers describe as a transformative period for Ghana’s digital financial services sector.
Appointed CEO of MML in 2022, he has led an ambitious strategy to deepen digital inclusion while expanding the sophistication of mobile financial services.
Under his leadership, the company successfully transitioned millions of customers from basic mobile money services to enhanced digital payment platforms, digital lending solutions and more secure financial ecosystems.
The year 2025, in particular, has been widely regarded as a turning point.
MML recorded significant growth in customer migration to advanced digital offerings, reflecting not only increased adoption but rising confidence in the security and reliability of mobile financial platforms.
At a time when digital fraud and cybersecurity threats remain a major concern across emerging markets, MML intensified its consumer protection drive.
Campaigns such as MoMoTrust and the widely publicised “Shine Your Eye” initiative played a pivotal role in educating customers on digital safety practices and fraud prevention.
These initiatives went beyond public awareness.
They strengthened consumer confidence, reduced vulnerability to scams and reinforced MTN’s broader commitment to responsible and secure digital growth.
Industry analysts say the balance between innovation and security has been central to MML’s sustained expansion.
Leadership backed by experience
Shaibu brings more than 25 years of commercial experience across Africa and the Middle East to the role.
His professional journey spans Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), the automobile industry, financial services, e-commerce and telecommunications.
For the past 18 years, he has focused on telecoms and digital services, leading major channel optimisation and business transformation initiatives in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
This cross-market experience has enabled him to blend operational efficiency with customer-centric innovation — a combination that has proven decisive in Ghana’s competitive fintech space.
His recognition as Fintech CEO of the Year places him among the top echelon of digital finance leaders within the MTN Group.
In the category, executives from Zambia and Rwanda placed second and third respectively, highlighting the competitive nature of the contest.
In his acceptance remarks, Shaibu congratulated his fellow finalists and dedicated the award to the staff and stakeholders of MML, acknowledging their resilience, teamwork and commitment to excellence.
“This recognition belongs to the entire MobileMoney family,” he noted, praising the collective effort that has driven the company’s growth trajectory.
A strategic platform within the MTN Group
The awards were presented during MTN Group’s annual Global Leadership Gathering, held under the theme “3 Platforms, One MTN.”
The three-day forum convened more than 400 senior leaders from across the Group’s markets for strategic reflection, performance assessment and alignment on future growth priorities.
Within this context, MML’s recognition as the Largest and Most Valuable Platform for Fintech carries strategic weight.
It signals that Ghana’s mobile money operations are not merely participating within the Group’s fintech agenda — they are leading it.
The Million Dollar Challenge Award for Connectivity for Fintech further highlights MML’s role in integrating connectivity and financial services, a convergence that is increasingly shaping Africa’s digital economy.
By leveraging MTN’s telecommunications backbone, MML has expanded access to payments, remittances, savings and credit services, bridging gaps in traditional banking infrastructure.
Positioning Ghana as a Fintech leader
MML’s stellar performance at GLG 2026 also reflects Ghana’s readiness to compete at the highest levels of digital finance innovation across the continent.
Over the past decade, Ghana has emerged as one of West Africa’s most vibrant mobile money markets.
MML’s scale, customer base and platform value now position it as a flagship fintech operation within MTN’s multinational network.
Industry observers say the company’s growth story illustrates how telecom-driven fintech models can accelerate financial inclusion, empower small businesses and expand access to credit in developing economies.
The strong showing at the Global Leadership Gathering sends a clear signal: Ghana is not just a market within the MTN Group — it is a benchmark.
As MTN advances its “3 Platforms” strategy — connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure — MML stands firmly at the intersection of innovation and impact.
With visionary leadership, a strengthened digital security framework and a rapidly evolving product suite, MML is poised not only to sustain its dominance in Ghana but to shape the future direction of fintech across the MTN Group’s African and Middle Eastern markets.
For MML, the awards are more than trophies; they are affirmation of a bold transformation — and a declaration that Ghana’s fintech revolution has firmly arrived on the continental stage.
