The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially launched the Africa Virtual Asset Summit (AVAS) 2026, aimed at positioning Ghana as the financial hub of the sub-region and deepening the relevance of Ghana’s capital market to the wider economy.

The two-day summit will be held from 2nd to 3rd November, 2026, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra.

Speaking at the launch, the Director-General of the SEC, Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, said technological innovation is rapidly transforming the global financial sector, with virtual assets, block chain technology and tokenization creating new opportunities in investment, trade, financial inclusion and economic development.

“For Ghana and the African continent, these developments offer significant opportunities, but they also require careful thought, effective regulation, and international cooperation,” he said.

Dr. Avedzi noted that Africa is at a pivotal moment in its digital economy journey, with a youthful population, growing entrepreneurship and expanding digital infrastructure providing a solid foundation for adopting new financial technologies.

He said virtual assets and tokenization have the potential to boost investment, enhance transaction efficiency and open new opportunities for businesses, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), by improving access to financial services and capital.

However, he cautioned that the opportunities must be pursued responsibly.

“Nevertheless, these opportunities must be pursued responsibly, because investor protection, cyber security, prevention of money laundering and financial stability all need continued attention,” he stated.

He stressed the need to create an environment that allows innovation to thrive while protecting public confidence in the integrity of the financial system.

“Regulation should not be seen as a barrier to innovation. On the contrary, a clear, predictable and responsive regulatory framework gives investors and innovators the confidence they need to act responsibly,” Dr. Avedzi added.

The Deputy Director-General of the SEC, Mensah Thompson, revealed that Ghana has passed a bill to legalize virtual assets, making stakeholder engagement crucial.

According to him, the summit will bring together regulators from across Africa to deliberate on the legalization of virtual assets and work towards harmonizing regulations across the continent.

He explained that the goal is to ensure regulatory consistency, so that rules governing virtual assets in Ghana are not different from those in Nigeria, Kenya or Rwanda.

Mr. Thompson added that the conference is expected to attract the entire virtual asset ecosystem to Ghana, including real estate and other forms of tokenized assets.

Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra Region