Ghana’s virtual asset ambitions could open a new area for economic cooperation with the United Kingdom, with the country’s High Commissioner to the UK calling for partnerships that move beyond policy discussions into investment and technology transfer.
Speaking at the launch of the Africa Virtual Assets Summit (AVAS) 2026 in Accra, H.E. Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, said the UK’s financial-services expertise and Ghana’s entrepreneurial capacity could create opportunities for collaboration in the emerging digital-finance industry.
She identified financial technology, digital innovation, research and investment as areas where Ghana and the UK could deepen cooperation.
“The UK’s well-established financial services sector and its technological expertise, combined with Ghana’s entrepreneurial potential, form a solid foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships,” Mrs Benson said.
She said Ghana’s international economic engagement should help connect local businesses and institutions with international investors, innovators and development partners.
The comments come as Ghana develops a formal regulatory framework for virtual assets. The country passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced a regulatory sandbox to allow virtual asset products and services to be tested under regulatory supervision.
Mrs Benson also stressed the importance of ensuring that technological development translates into wider economic benefits, particularly through entrepreneurship, employment and financial inclusion.
“The ecosystem’s success should not be judged solely by technological progress or investment levels,” she said, pointing instead to its impact on “entrepreneurship,” “job creation” and “financial inclusion.”
She further called for stronger cooperation among governments, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies and development partners, arguing that no single country can address the technological and regulatory challenges of virtual assets alone.
The emphasis on investment is consistent with the High Commissioner’s broader economic diplomacy agenda. In June 2026, she said Ghana and the UK were positioned to build cooperation around prosperity, innovation and sustainable growth, while highlighting the Ghana High Commission’s role in connecting investors with opportunities in Ghana.
AVAS 2026 is expected to bring together regulators, financial institutions, investors, technology companies and other industry participants to discuss virtual asset regulation, tokenisation, digital securities, and cross-border cooperation.
