The Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) have launched comprehensive guidelines for equity and investment-based crowdfunding in Ghana. SEC Ghana developed these guidelines collaboratively with key stakeholders and with technical assistance from Lelapa African FinTech Advisory.
The new framework aims to unlock crowdfunding as a viable financing option for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and startups in Ghana while ensuring investor protection. It covers various entities, including crowdfunding intermediaries, companies seeking funds, and foreign entities interested in operating crowdfunding platforms in Ghana.
Rev. Daniel Ogbamey Tetteh, Director-General of the SEC, emphasised that these guidelines will provide a robust framework to protect investors, ensure transparency, and foster trust in the crowdfunding ecosystem.
Key features of the guidelines include:
- Requiring platforms to provide transparent information about investment risks and returns.
- Implementing a rigorous licensing process for crowdfunding platforms.
- Fostering collaboration between crowdfunding platforms and traditional financial institutions.
Also, the Technical Lead at UNCDF, Arianna Gasparri, said, "On behalf of UNCDF, we are very happy to have worked with SEC in contributing to the future of investments and innovative channels for supporting MSMEs in Ghana."
