Ghana’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harold Agyeman, has been named a keynote speaker for the Digital Assets Summit Africa (DASA) 2026, scheduled for September 29-30, 2026, in Accra.
The continental summit, to be held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, is being organised in partnership with the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ghana, reflecting growing institutional confidence following the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill in December 2025.
A statement from the main organisers, Promark Elite Ltd, said Ambassador Agyeman’s participation underscored increasing international interest in Ghana’s evolving digital finance ecosystem, as the country positions itself as a continental leader in responsible digital asset regulation.
Commenting on his role, Ambassador Agyeman highlighted the potential of regulated digital assets and blockchain-based payment systems to reduce long-standing friction in Africa’s cross-border trade.
“Africa’s biggest opportunity lies in removing friction from cross-border trade. Regulated digital assets and blockchain-based payment rails can dramatically reduce costs, settlement times, and trust barriers that have held intra-African commerce back for decades,” he said.
He noted that Ghana’s new regulatory framework created an opportunity for continental leadership, adding that the VASP Bill signalled that innovation and regulation could advance together to attract investment while protecting markets.
The DASA Secretariat said Ambassador Agyeman’s diplomatic experience would support Ghana’s digital finance awareness efforts, particularly in trade finance, remittances, and small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth.
He stressed the importance of digital asset education, describing digital assets as tools for economic empowerment, inclusion, and competitiveness when applied within a regulated environment.
The 2026 summit is themed “From Policy to Prosperity: Scaling Digital Assets for Investment, Jobs & Economic Growth in Africa,” highlighting a shift from policy formulation to practical economic impact.
Organisers said Ambassador Agyeman would bring a vital diplomatic perspective to Africa’s digital finance discourse, linking digital asset adoption with trade diplomacy, investment flows, and continental development.
With the VASP Bill now operational, Ghanaian financial institutions are preparing to introduce regulated digital asset services, including tokenised financial products, blockchain-based trade finance, and improved cross-border settlement systems.
During the summit, Ambassador Agyeman is expected to address digital assets and cross-border trade efficiency, reducing friction in African payment corridors, regulatory diplomacy in the digital economy, and positioning Ghana as a regional digital finance hub.
