Ghana’s financial regulators are prioritising public education as a cornerstone of the country’s emerging virtual asset regime, with the launch of the National Virtual Asset Literacy Initiative (NaVALI) in Accra.
The programme, spearheaded by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is designed to prepare consumers, institutions and regulators for the opportunities and risks associated with virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based products.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, BoG Governor Dr Johnson Asiama said regulation alone could not guarantee safety and stability in the fast-evolving digital asset space, stressing that informed participation by the public was equally critical.
Under the theme “Understand Before You Undertake,” Dr Asiama explained that NaVALI seeks to build a strong knowledge base around virtual asset activities, their implications and potential risks, as Ghana moves to operationalise its new Virtual Asset Service Providers Act.
He described the enactment of the law as a major step in the country’s financial sector development, adding that both the Bank of Ghana and the SEC were now focused on putting in place the systems and structures needed to close regulatory gaps and safeguard consumers.
According to the Governor, NaVALI provides the foundation for responsible innovation by promoting nationwide awareness, strengthening institutional capacity and discouraging uninformed or speculative use of virtual assets. The initiative brings together regulators, academia and industry experts to support supervision, policy formulation and consumer protection.
Dr Asiama called for sustained collaboration among regulators, industry players, educators, civil society and the media to ensure the success of the initiative, urging the public to actively engage, learn and ask questions.
“Financial innovation can only support national development when it is grounded in knowledge, trust and accountability,” he said, underscoring the role of education in building a resilient digital economy.
