Mensah Thompson, Acting Deputy Director General of Operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission, says Ghana is positioning itself to embrace virtual assets and tokenised finance through a regulatory framework designed to encourage innovation while protecting investors and maintaining financial stability.
Speaking on the topic "Ghana’s Approach to Virtual Assets: Enabling Innovation While Safeguarding Stability" at the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Thompson said regulators are working closely with industry stakeholders to create a credible and responsible virtual asset ecosystem.
According to him, Ghana’s improving economic environment has strengthened investor confidence and created momentum for new forms of digital investment and financial innovation.
Less than a year ago, many people questioned whether Ghana could recover from its economic difficulties, but today the results are becoming increasingly visible,” he said.
He pointed to declining inflation, improving market activity and renewed investor interest as signs that confidence is returning to the economy.
These developments are part of broader market reforms being undertaken by government and the central bank to restore stability and support long-term capital formation,” he stated.
Thompson explained that although he initially had limited exposure to virtual assets, deeper engagement with the sector convinced him that the technology could reshape financial markets and create opportunities for young Africans.
The more I researched the ecosystem, the more convinced I became that if we get this right, we can unlock a new era of innovation, wealth creation and broader participation in financial markets,” he said.
He stressed that Ghana’s approach is not aimed at restricting innovation but rather guiding it responsibly through clear regulations and collaboration with the private sector.
The response to innovation should not be silence or prohibition. What is required is measured innovation supported by sound regulation and institutional safeguards,” he noted.
According to him, the SEC has established a virtual assets and digital finance committee to help develop guidelines and policies for the sector.
He said the framework would focus on investor protection, governance standards, cybersecurity, custody requirements and market transparency.
Innovation cannot come at the expense of market integrity or financial stability. Strong investor protection and sound governance must remain central to the market,” he added.
Thompson also highlighted the rapid global growth of virtual assets, noting that digital finance is increasingly becoming part of mainstream financial systems.
This is no longer about the future alone. The future of finance is already unfolding before us,” he said.
He noted that tokenisation and blockchain technology could open opportunities in areas such as infrastructure finance, digital investment products, real estate, commodities and cross-border capital markets.
For Ghana and other frontier economies, he said the rise of virtual assets presents an opportunity to bypass outdated financial systems and build more efficient and inclusive market structures.
Frontier markets like Ghana have a unique opportunity to leapfrog legacy financial infrastructure and build systems that are more accessible, efficient and inclusive,” he said.
Thompson further encouraged fintech firms, developers and entrepreneurs to move beyond cryptocurrency trading and build practical digital solutions that address real economic needs.
The opportunities are significant for innovators who are willing to build solutions around payments, investment infrastructure, digital ownership and financial inclusion,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the SEC’s commitment to working with innovators through regulatory sandboxes and stakeholder engagement to ensure Ghana develops a trusted and globally competitive virtual asset market.
History will judge us not by whether innovation arrived, but by how we responded to it,” Thompson concluded.
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