The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ghana has taken a step toward regulating the burgeoning digital forex trading space, presenting its Draft Digital Forex Trading Guidelines to industry stakeholders for review and input.
At a stakeholder engagement event held February 20, 2026 in Accra, the Deputy Director General of the SEC, Mensah Thompson, stressed on the need for a clear regulatory framework that protects investors without stifling innovation. The event brought together key players in the financial and capital markets to deliberate on the proposed rules.
Thompson opened his remarks by highlighting the improving macroeconomic environment, noting that declining inflation and easing interest rates are restoring investor confidence. “These developments are significant because stability restores confidence and confidence is essential for the growth and resilience of the capital market,” he said.
However, he pivoted to the rapid transformation of financial services, driven by technology. He pointed to the rising visibility and adoption of digital forex trading platforms as a key area requiring regulatory attention. While acknowledging that these platforms expand access to investment opportunities and contribute to financial inclusion, he stressed that their growth necessitates clear rules of the game.
“This growing importance makes regulatory clarity necessary not to hinder innovation, but to ensure that such activities take place within a clear, transparent, and accountable framework that protects investors and preserves market integrity,” Thompson explained.
The Draft Digital Forex Trading Guidelines, developed by the Commission, are designed to provide confidence to investors and certainty to service providers. Thompson was keen to stress that the framework was not developed in isolation. He reiterated the SEC’s commitment to a collaborative approach, stating that effective regulation is born from engagement with the very market it seeks to govern.
“We do not sit in our offices and simply issue rules for the market. We engage the market. We listen,” he told the gathering. He added that, “that is why this engagement is important. It provides us with the opportunity to explain the proposed framework, and it provides you with the opportunity to share your perspectives, raise concerns, and contribute meaningfully to shaping the final Guidelines.”
The Deputy Director General further clarified the Commission’s jurisdiction, affirming that its mandate is “activity-based and technology-neutral.” This means that any activity involving capital market services or investment products falls under the SEC’s purview, irrespective of the digital platform used. He also assured stakeholders of continued coordination with the Bank of Ghana to ensure consistency in regulatory oversight.
The engagement session served as a forum for dialogue, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback that will shape the final version of the guidelines. He added that feedback from stakeholders will help shape the final framework, and their cooperation will support its effective implementation.
