The Bank of Ghana has introduced new guidelines to regulate the registration and operations of international money transfer operators, marking a further step towards strengthening oversight of inward remittance services and improving transparency in the foreign exchange market.
Issued under existing banking, foreign exchange and payment systems legislation, the guidelines provide a clearer legal and regulatory framework for international money transfer operators operating in Ghana. They apply to firms that partner with licensed banks, payment service providers and other approved financial institutions to deliver remittance services into the country.
Under the new rules, applicants must demonstrate that they are properly licensed or authorised in their home jurisdictions before being considered for approval in Ghana. The central bank said applications will be assessed within 90 days of receiving a complete submission, with approvals granted or refused based on compliance with regulatory, governance and operational requirements. The move is intended to enhance consumer protection, reduce illicit financial flows and strengthen confidence in Ghana’s remittance ecosystem, which plays a critical role in foreign exchange inflows.
In a related development, MTN Ghana has announced a reduction in tariffs across a range of its products and services following recent reforms to the Value Added Tax regime. The adjustments reflect a lower VAT rate, the removal of the COVID-19 levy and other changes introduced under the VAT Act 2025.
The revised tax measures are set to take effect from 1 January 2026 and are designed to ease cost pressures on consumers and businesses. MTN Ghana said the tariff reductions are aimed at passing the benefits of the tax changes directly to customers, particularly in a context of rising living costs and growing demand for affordable digital and communication services.
Together, the tighter regulation of remittance operators and the easing of indirect tax burdens on telecoms signal a broader policy effort to improve efficiency in Ghana’s financial and digital sectors. While the new rules are expected to raise compliance standards, authorities will be watching closely to ensure that they do not inadvertently slow remittance flows or increase costs for end users.
