Influencers and promoters in Ghana’s virtual assets space have been warned that they must obtain authorisation from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) before engaging in any advocacy, advertisement, or promotion of cryptocurrencies and related digital assets.
Deputy Director-General of SEC, Mr. Mensah Thompson, issued the caution during the maiden National Virtual Assets Literacy Programme organised by the SEC in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana on Monday, December 22, 2025.
The event focused on the operationalisation of the newly passed Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025.
Mr. Thompson emphasised the volatility of the virtual assets sector, stating that specific rules have been designed to guide advertisement, promotion, and advocacy.
“We all know how volatile the virtual assets space is, and that is why specific rules have been designed to guide advertisement, promotion and advocacy,” he said.
He reminded influencers intending to operate in the space that only licensed and authorised persons will be allowed to engage in such activities, with consequences for any breach.
“If you want to work in that space as an influencer, consult the SEC and the Bank of Ghana for the rules,” Mr. Thompson advised.
The warning comes in the wake of Parliament’s recent passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, which establishes a formal regulatory framework for virtual assets, providing real-time visibility into the sector and strengthening measures against anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT).
Mr. Thompson noted that the SEC is developing guidelines to operationalise the Act, covering licensing requirements, operational rules, reporting standards, KYC procedures, and the deployment of technology for monitoring.
Under the new regulation, service providers, including exchanges and platforms, are required to regularise their operations from next year under a dual licensing regime involving both the SEC and the BoG.
He described the new law as an exciting opportunity for Ghana’s evolving capital market, offering alternative settlement options for businesses with benefits such as ease of usage, speed, lower costs, and reduced dependence on the Ghana cedi.
“If there are any doubts that Ghana’s period of extreme cedi volatility is over, this should dispel them,” Mr. Thompson added.
The Deputy Director-General concluded by highlighting that the literacy programme is the beginning of ongoing initiatives to enhance public understanding of virtual assets, ensuring no one is left behind in the regulated space.