Bank of Ghana, (BoG) statutory regulator of the banking industry, last year introduced a biometric smart card, the e-zwich, onto the Ghanaian market. Kofi Ahovi takes a look at its achievements and challenges. E-zwich is a major component of Bank of Ghana’s payment system programme and strategy. It is aimed at increasing electronic payments in the economy while reducing the over reliance on cash and paper-based payments. This development is consistent with a general and growing international trend towards retail electronic payments which are considered more efficient, reliable, timely and catalytic for higher economic growth. Given the important role of payment systems as the core of any financial system, the case for e-zwich and other electronic payment products cannot be overemphasized. To underscore its commitment to the promotion of electronic payments on a full time basis, BoG in 2007 established a wholly owned subsidiary, the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited...