The Bank of Ghana (BoG) announced plans to roll out new guidelines for virtual assets, including cryptocurrency, to support licensing and regulation of businesses in the sector. Governor Dr Johnson Asiama said the framework will enable the central bank to issue licences to eligible virtual asset service providers.
“Even though it is a very risky area, we just can not sit and ignore it; that is why we have put in place the necessary regulations, so we can protect Ghanaians,” he told reporters. He added that previous attempts to overlook cryptocurrency had not stopped its use and adoption, noting, “We have in the past pretended that cryptocurrency does not exist, but the truth is that it goes on whether you like it or not.”
The move follows the BoG’s inauguration of the Virtual Assets Coordinating Committee last month. The committee, established under the Virtual Assets Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), provides a statutory platform for coordinated regulatory and supervisory action among relevant institutions. Representatives from the Bank of Ghana, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other bodies will work together to guide activities within the sector and protect users.
With the new guidelines, the BoG aims to create a clear path for licensing, ensuring that virtual asset businesses operate within a regulated framework while safeguarding the interests of Ghanaians.
