The Central Bank of Ghana has extended the registration deadline for existing International Money Transfer Operators, IMTOs, to July 31, 2026, as part of efforts to regularise their operations within the country’s financial system.
The directive was part of a notice issued by the central bank and addressed to IMTOs, banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions and Payment Service Providers.
The notice comes on the back of an earlier directive issued by the Bank of Ghana on January 20, 2026, on the registration and operations of International Money Transfer Operators in Ghana.
Per the Bank’s directive, all existing IMTOs are expected to cease the advantage of the extension to regularise their operations and submit all required documentation on or before the new deadline.
The central bank warned that all existing IMTOs that do not comply with the registration requirements within the stipulated timeframe will not be permitted to operate in Ghana.
Further, it stated that any existing arrangements or partnerships between non-compliant IMTOs and banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions and Payment Service Providers will be rendered null and void.
These entities may also be subject to further regulatory and enforcement actions under applicable laws
The directive is also expected to have implications for both money transfer operators and local financial-sector partners, particularly banks and payment service providers that facilitate international remittance flows into Ghana.
The international remittances remain an important source of foreign exchange and household income for Ghana, making regulatory oversight of the sector critical to financial stability, consumer protection and anti-money laundering compliance.
The Central Bank of Ghana’s latest notice signals a strong supervision over the remittance market, as the regulator ensure that all operators active in the country meet the required licensing, reporting and operational standards.
For banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions and Payment Service Providers, the directive creates a clear compliance obligation to ensure that they do not maintain relationships with IMTOs that fail to regularise their operations after the July 31 deadline.
The Bank of Ghana has directed all regulated institutions to ensure that all directives are adhered to.
Story By Martha Seyram Jackson || Metro Digital
