The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Ghana, led by Director-General Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, is convening the Africa Virtual Asset Summit (AVAS) on November 2-3, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra. The summit aims to advance a trusted, inclusive, and innovative virtual asset ecosystem across Africa. The event will bring together regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the potential of tokenisation and its applications in Africa.
The summit's theme, "Tokenisation: Africa's Pathway Towards Building a Trusted, Inclusive and Innovative Virtual Asset Ecosystem," reflects the growing interest in tokenisation as a means of unlocking value in various assets, including gold, real estate, cocoa, bonds, and trade receivables. Tokenisation offers opportunities to widen access to investment and improve the way assets are owned, transferred, and traded. Ghana is already exploring these opportunities through its regulatory sandbox, which includes applications involving gold and Treasury bills.
A key outcome of the summit is the proposed Accra Declaration, a shared set of principles and recommendations intended to guide the responsible development of virtual assets and tokenisation across the continent. The Accra Declaration aims to establish common ground for responsible tokenisation, encourage cooperation among jurisdictions, and support the development of credible virtual asset markets. The summit will provide a platform for shaping the policies and partnerships needed to realise tokenisation's potential in Africa.
The summit is expected to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including securities regulators, central banks, finance ministries, financial intelligence units, stock exchanges, banks, asset managers, pension funds, insurers, virtual asset service providers, fintech companies, investors, legal practitioners, academics, and development partners. The event will provide a unique opportunity for these stakeholders to engage in dialogue and collaboration on the development of virtual asset markets in Africa.
Several high-profile speakers have been announced for the summit, including Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, SEC Director-General Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George. The summit will provide a platform for these speakers to share their insights and perspectives on the development of virtual asset markets in Africa.
As African economies explore new ways to mobilise capital and expand financial inclusion, the AVAS 2026 summit will provide a critical platform for shaping the policies and partnerships needed to realise tokenisation's potential. The event is presented with the involvement of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ghana, and is expected to contribute to the development of a trusted, inclusive, and innovative virtual asset ecosystem across Africa.
Key points
- The summit aims to advance a trusted, inclusive, and innovative virtual asset ecosystem across Africa.
- The proposed Accra Declaration will guide the responsible development of virtual assets and tokenisation across the continent.
- The summit will bring together regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the potential of tokenisation and its applications in Africa.
