Dr. Patrick Saidu Conteh is a distinguished leader in finance, fintech, economics, and public policy, spanning over 27 years across the private, public and non-for-profit sectors. He is recognized for his exceptional contributions to financial innovation and economic development across Africa; a trusted international advisor and speaker on fintech and other innovative technologies as platforms for leapfrogging Africa’s economic development.
Patrick is currently the CEO of the Africa Fintech Network (AFN) – the continent’s advocacy voice for the creation of a Pan-Africa Fintech Ecosystem enabled through cooperation and collaboration among the major fintech ecosystem stakeholders across 40 African countries.
As Co-Founder and active member of iDEA (International Digital Economies Association), Dr. Conteh plays an important role in advancing the organization’s mission to foster inclusive and sustainable digital economies across the Global Digital Majority. His leadership in fintech and public policy helps bridge the gap between digital innovation and economic development, ensuring that the benefits of fintech reach underserved communities throughout Africa. Through his work with iDEA, Dr. Conteh continues to shape a more equitable and prosperous digital future for the continent.
He was USAID Senior Economic Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning of Liberia and before that Resident Advisor at the Central Bank of Liberia.
Patrick was Regional Lead for Sub Sahara Africa overseeing a unique collaboration between Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) UK and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA), to strengthen the creation, dissemination, and adoption of fintech related knowledge in the continent.
He was Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone, where amongst other reform initiatives, he pioneered one of Africa’s first fintech regulatory sandboxes as part of an overarching financial inclusion strategy. Before that, he served as Minister of State for fiscal affairs Sierra Leone.
Patrick also served as Alternate Executive Director at the African Development Bank contributing to the formulation and implementation of major developmental programs and projects across Africa.
His earlier career was in commercial/retail banking holding various senior management roles in financial management & control; risk management; administration & operations; credits administration & control; human capital management; business development; strategy and policy, etc., and exiting at the level of Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer.
Patrick has an excellent combination of academic and professional qualifications and competence in economics, finance, and management.