Ms Abena Amoah, the Deputy Managing Director (MD) of Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), has underscored the important roles the GSE has been playing in the development of the country in over three decades of operation, while noting that the Exchange will continue to play key role in the country’s economic development.

The Deputy Director stated that “just like other markets, GSE’s performance has gone up and down, but its overall output has been positive over the years.”

Ms Abena Amoah disclosed that at the end of last year 2021, the Ghana Stock Exchange received its highest ever Equities Market Capitalization since its inception in 1990 with a stock market capitalization of GH¢64,495.20 million, representing 15 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product.

The Deputy MD noted that out of the 31 years of operations, 20 years had seen the achievement of positive results and in two of those years, the GSE had been adjudged the Best performing Market in the World.

Ms Abena Amoah indicated that between 1990 to 2021, the Ghana Stock Exchange, as part of its contribution to growth of the capital market ecosystem, saw a total number of 253 institutions and participants in the market.

The Deputy Managing Director further explained that on the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM), in its first year of the commencement of the new system in 2015, traded GH¢5,222 million with a phenomenal growth throughout the years, trading GH¢208,808 million in 2021.

The Deputy MD, also spoke on the volumes of shares in the Central Securities Deposit (CDS) for December 2021, she noted that there were GH¢6,860,968,293 volumes from foreign investors, representing 49 per cent and GH¢7,215,310,349 from domestic investors, representing 51 per cent.

Ms Abena Amoah stated that as of December 2021, there was 1,897 foreign investors representing one per cent and 217,031 domestic investors, representing 99 per cent in the Central Securities Deposit.

The Deputy MD indicated that currently, 36 companies had issued 33 different securities, including ordinary shares, preference shares, depository receipt on its Equities Market.

Fixed Income Market

On the Fixed Income Market, however, she noted that there were currently 196 securities listed, including 153 being government and 43 corporate organisations.

Ms Abena Amoah explained that over its years of existence, the Ghana Stock Exchange has facilitated the raising of GH¢18 billion in Equity and Debt Capital with some GH¢5.4 billion raised as total Equities Capital on the GSE.

Out of the amount, MTN Ghana alone raised GH¢1,146.6 million which is the biggest amount by a single entity. ADB Bank also raised GH¢472.38 million, Enterprise Insurance Plc GH¢219.7 million, GOIL Plc GH¢197.2 million, GCB Bank Plc GH¢103.4 million, SIC Insurance Plc GH¢35.2 million, and Cocoa Processing Company Plc raised GH¢13.5 million.

In addition, Digicut Advertising Plc raised a total of GH¢9.5 million, Intravenous Infusions Plc GH¢6.8 million while the Produce Buying Company Plc raised GH¢5.9 million.

Ms Abena Amoah explained that between the last five to 10 years, the Debt Market had raised GH¢12,612.38 million and Shelf Registration of GH¢17,670 million.

However, at the end of 2021, the GSE was adjudged the second-Best performing market in Africa with a composite index of 43.66 per cent, measuring the performance of its Equity’s Market.