Ghana will regulate virtual assets to ensure they are safe, accessible and beneficial to citizens rather than impose a ban on their use, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has declared.
He said virtual assets were no longer a passing trend but an essential component of the rapidly evolving global digital economy, requiring a regulatory framework that protects users while encouraging innovation.
Speaking at the Africa Virtual Asset Summit 2026, Mr. George said Ghana would not remain on the sidelines as digital financial technologies continued to transform economies and create new opportunities.
“Ghana will not stand on the sidelines and watch this transformation unfold. We will not ban what our young people are already using. We will regulate it, make it safe and ensure that it works for our people,” he stated.
He explained that virtual assets represented an important tool in an innovation-driven world and stressed the need for Ghana to develop appropriate regulations to guide their adoption and use.
Citing figures contained in the memorandum accompanying the Virtual Assets Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), the Minister said Ghana ranked 29th globally in cryptocurrency adoption, with approximately 3.1 million Ghanaians using virtual assets.
He argued that the scale of adoption made it necessary for the activities to be brought within the country’s legal framework to ensure accountability, consumer protection and effective oversight.
“Activity on that scale cannot remain outside the law. It must be brought within the legal framework,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, announced plans to launch an upgraded version of the Ghana cedi on November 12, describing the exercise as an important milestone for the country’s currency.
He said the upgraded currency would introduce new features as part of efforts to strengthen public confidence in the local currency.
Dr. Asiama invited the public to participate in the launch ceremony scheduled to take place at Bank Square, describing the event as both exciting and historic.
The discussions at the Africa Virtual Asset Summit 2026 come amid growing interest in cryptocurrency, digital finance and blockchain-based technologies across Africa, as governments and financial regulators explore ways to harness their economic potential while addressing associated risks.