BoG governor says crypto trading now legal under new regulatory framework

The Bank of Ghana has confirmed that trading in virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, is now lawful in the country, with regulators insisting that participants will not be arrested for engaging in such activities.

Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama made the disclosure at the Bank’s annual Nine Lessons, Carols and Thanksgiving Service held at the Bank Square in Accra on Friday, 19 December.

He said the shift follows the development of a regulatory framework that brings virtual asset activity under formal oversight.

The Governor stressed that the move is not simply about granting legal recognition to crypto, but about creating tools for better regulation and supervision across the financial system.

“These are not just legal milestones; they are enablers of better policies, stronger supervision and more effective regulation,” he said.

Dr Asiama noted that the new regime gives room for innovation in digital finance, but warned that both regulators and market participants must proceed with care.

“The progress gives us room to move, but it also calls for responsibility and vigilance,” he added.

He explained that the framework is designed to ensure that risks associated with virtual asset trading are properly monitored and contained, so that financial stability is not compromised as the crypto ecosystem develops.

“What this means is that now we have the framework to manage it and to manage the risks that can involve that kind of activity,” the Governor said.