Bank of Ghana Rolls Out Digital Asset Literacy Initiative After VASP Act Passage

Ghana shifts focus to crypto investor education as new laws bring digital assets under formal regulation.

Ghana’s digital asset market is entering a period of formal regulation following recent legal reforms. With cryptocurrency services now regulated, authorities have shifted focus toward public awareness and investor education. A new national literacy program aims to prepare users for participation in a more structured crypto environment.

Public Education Takes Center Stage in Ghana’s Regulated Crypto Market

Following the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, Act 1154, the Bank of Ghana has rolled out a national crypto education program. The initiative is called the National Virtual Assets Literacy Initiative (NAVALI). It marks the first major public effort after cryptocurrency and blockchain-based financial services entered country’s formal regulatory framework.

For an extended period, warnings from the Bank of Ghana focused on risks associated with unregulated digital assets. Legal backing now changes that stance, as Act 1154 grants regulatory powers to both the central bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both parties can license, monitor, and penalize virtual asset service providers operating in Ghana.

NAVALI serves as the first large-scale public outreach effort under the new framework. Officials say the program aims to help citizens understand how digital assets work and how price swings in crypto markets are driven. In addition, citizens will learn how to identify approved service providers to help minimize scams targeting local investors.

Investor Awareness Gains Priority as Cryptocurrency Trading Expands in Ghana

Public education has become urgent as digital asset activity continues to grow rapidly across the country. Estimates show that nearly three million Ghanaians, around 17% of the adult population, trade or hold digital assets. Informal transaction volumes are estimated at more than $3 billion annually, much of it outside regulated financial channels.

“Effective regulation and enforcement cannot be achieved by regulators alone,” said Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama. He noted that public understanding of virtual asset risks and market structure plays a major role in investor safety.

NAVALI’s launch also coincides with ongoing work on Ghana’s central bank digital currency, the e-cedi. While the e-cedi remains a state-issued currency, cryptocurrencies remain excluded from legal tender status. However, Act 1154 permits their lawful exchange and use as investment assets within defined rules.

Industry observers expect clearer regulation and wider public knowledge to attract interest from foreign partners and local developers. Regulators add that steady oversight and informed participation will shape the development of Ghana’s digital asset market in the coming years.