BoG, SEC, FIC Deepen AML/CFT Compliance Ahead of VASP Act Implementation
The Bank of Ghana (BoG), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), has held a joint Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) sensitisation workshop for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), as authorities intensify preparations for the rollout of Ghana’s new Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Act.
The engagement, held on December 22, 2025, brought together more than 90 participants from Ghana’s virtual asset ecosystem and was positioned as a key step toward the effective implementation of the recently passed law.
According to the organisers, the workshop focused on strengthening AML/CFT compliance within the rapidly growing virtual assets sector, against the backdrop of rising digital asset adoption and associated financial integrity risks.
Discussions centred on Ghana’s AML/CFT legal and regulatory framework, including the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), the AML/CFT Guidelines, 2022, and the provisions of the VASP Act. Particular emphasis was placed on the designation of VASPs as Accountable Institutions under the AML/CFT Guidelines, a status that imposes strict compliance obligations on operators, including customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and reporting of suspicious activities.
Regulators also highlighted key elements of the VASP Act, notably the forthcoming licensing and registration requirements, as well as transitional arrangements for existing operators. Authorities cautioned that virtual asset businesses operating without the requisite licence or registration after the transitional period will face stringent sanctions in line with the law.
The BoG, SEC and FIC said the initiative reflects a coordinated regulatory approach aimed at promoting market integrity, safeguarding investors and ensuring that innovation in the digital assets space does not undermine Ghana’s financial system.
The institutions reaffirmed that implementation of the VASP Act will be a major regulatory priority in 2026, signalling tighter oversight of virtual asset activities as Ghana positions itself as a credible and secure destination for digital finance.
