President Akufo-Addo has vowed government’s support to make Ghana’s Stock Exchange a critical player in West Africa.
The President made the commitment when he paid a working visit to the Ghana Stock Exchange as part of a familiarization tour of some financial regulatory institutions.
According to him, the Exchange is critical to building a stronger economy. The visit was aimed at assessing the impact of the coronavirus on trading activities and ways that Ghana can provide support.
Also, he used the occasion to inspire managers of the board to work towards achieving its aim in the regional trading hub in West Africa.
“We have gone through some harrowing times, not just us here in Ghana but the entire world and it has had major impact on economies of virtually all the nations of the world. So, if indeed the stock exchange is one of the critical instruments for growing a company, a country’s economy and thereby growing the possibility of the people in becoming more and more prosperous.
“I think it is important that those of us who have to make decisions affecting the economy have a clearer idea of what is going on here, and that’s the main reason that I came to find out the impact of COVID-19 on your activities, where you are in terms of growing exchange and what obviously government on its part can do to assist the process of getting Ghana really strong stock exchange”.
Meanwhile, the President also promised to build an ultra-modern office for the exchange if it retains power in the next election.
“And to let you know that in me you have a friend and in my government you have a friend. The Finance Minister has committed himself on the new building… he’s leaving you with a promise that if the four more years for Nana materializes, he’s going to take the lead in making sure you get a new premises”
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta speaking on the trading platform said government is on course to make Ghana a regional financing sector. According to him, this will open up the country for bigger opportunities through investments.
“There’s a lot to do but I think we’ve rarely set up a platform to be able to move forward, God willing when the President is reelected in December. Where, therefore the stability of the economy, what we have done in the international bond market, it’s now time to really unfurl ourselves to get companies listed to be able to make sure the regional financial services center becomes real, that we de-neutralize them so that there will be more capital to do what we want to do and for you to know that between the SEC, Ministry of Finance, we’ve got your back and we’re going to do everything we can and for this to be the greatest market”.
