The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has extended the deadline for the registration of International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) to July 31, 2026, offering operators additional time to comply with regulatory requirements under the country’s foreign remittance framework.
In a public notice issued on June 12, 2026 and signed by the Secretary of the Bank, Aimee Vyda Quashie, the central bank said the extension follows its earlier directive released on January 20, 2026, which introduced updated guidelines governing the registration and operations of IMTOs in Ghana.
The BoG urged all existing IMTOs yet to complete their registration process to take advantage of the extension window to “regularise their operations and submit all required documentation” before the revised deadline.
The central bank emphasized that this is a critical compliance requirement aimed at strengthening oversight within Ghana’s remittance ecosystem, enhancing transparency, and ensuring adherence to anti-money laundering and financial stability frameworks.
The notice warned IMTOs that fail to meet the registration requirements by July 31 will no longer be allowed to operate within Ghana.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the statement stressed, “existing IMTOs that fail to comply … shall not be permitted to operate in Ghana.”
In addition, existing partnerships between non-compliant IMTOs and regulated financial institutions—including banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs), and Payment Service Providers (PSPs)—will be declared null and void.
The Bank of Ghana further noted that entities that fail to comply may face additional regulatory and enforcement actions in accordance with applicable laws.
“All regulated institutions are hereby directed to ensure strict adherence to this directive,” the notice added, placing responsibility not only on IMTOs but also on their local partners to comply fully.
The directive forms part of broader efforts by the BoG to tighten supervision of cross-border financial flows, amid growing volumes of remittances and increasing concerns about regulatory gaps in fintech-driven payment channels.
Remittances play a vital role in Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange inflows and household income support.
Regulators have therefore been keen to ensure that all operators within the space are licensed, traceable, and compliant with international standards.
The revised IMTO guidelines introduced earlier this year were designed to standardize operational requirements, improve data reporting, and eliminate informal or unregistered remittance channels.
The Bank encouraged institutions requiring assistance with the registration process to contact its Payment Systems Department.
Source: businesspostonline
