KEY POINTS
Ghana Post, the national postal service of Ghana, marked the 25th coronation anniversary of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II by releasing a set of commemorative physical stamps paired with non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
In collaboration with Manhyia Palace and with support from the Ministry of Communication, the collection is designed to honor the king’s quarter-century contribution to Ghana’s development and cultural integrity.
The series comprises 7,200 stamps, each priced at 250 Ghanaian cedi (around $18), equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology allowing owners to access an NFT version of the stamp.
“This commemorative stamp, meticulously crafted by skilled artisans with the guidance of the stamp advisory committee at Ghana Post, embodies our collective national pride and identity. It stands as a poignant reminder of the unbreakable bond between our cherished traditional values and our forward-looking aspirations,” said Bice Osei Kuffour, Ghana Post’s Managing Director.
While this initiative marks Africa’s first venture of its kind, it follows the lead of Deutsche Post, Germany’s national postal service, which introduced NFT-linked stamps in October 2023 with its “Historic Buildings” series, spotlighting iconic German landmarks.
Ghana’s move reflects a broader trend of embracing Web3 technologies across the continent. The region has seen significant growth in blockchain funding, with a remarkable 1,668% increase reported in 2022, according to PWC and Emurgo Africa.
The development and adoption of Web3 and cryptocurrencies in Africa offer potential for financial inclusion, crucial given that over 40% of the population remains unbanked.
In alignment with this trend, Africarare’s metaverse, Ubuntuland, launched its virtual token, $Ubuntu Token, offering various applications and a philanthropic dimension to Africa’s evolving digital landscape.
