GSE embraces digital technologies to boost investment, regional ties
By Solomon Tetteh Nartey, Accra
The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), has outlined ambitious steps it is taking to harness digital technology, expand access to the Ghanaian capital market, and drive regional integration.
Speaking at a financial inclusion seminar, Managing Director of the GSE, Abena Amoah, highlighted GSE’s recent efforts to connect individual investors, SMEs, and corporations through digital platforms.
She pointed to the MarketWatch app, which provides a user-friendly interface for tracking and trading on the Ghanaian stock market.
“Through these online trading platforms and mobile-based solutions, including the GSE’s own MarketWatch app, we are connecting individual investors, SMEs, and corporations to the Ghana capital market.
We are empowering Ghanaians to actively participate in our country’s financial landscape. However, more education is needed for the adoption and safe usage of such digital investment tools,” she explained.
Beyond accessibility, she stated that technology has been transformative in enhancing the efficiency and security of GSE’s operations.
The Exchange according to her, is also utilizing advanced technological solutions to boost business operations, risk management, and integration efforts within the African financial landscape.
“Another important thing we are doing with technology is integrating our regional and African capital markets,” she said.
Abena Amoah highlighted three key initiatives aimed at cross-border capital market integration. The first she mentioned is Second Stance, a Ghana-born platform facilitating cross-border trading with markets in Nigeria, Kenya, and potentially others in the near future.
“This platform has been born, bred, and battered right here in Ghana,” she stated, noting its potential to soon extend to the West African BRVM market.
She revealed that GSE has also joined the African Exchanges Linkage Programme (AELP), a collaborative project led by the African Securities Exchanges Association.
This platform, with participation from several African stock exchanges, aims to connect brokerage firms across the continent, with a combined market capitalization of over $1.5 trillion and more than 2,000 listed companies.
“It is our expectation that the GSE will go live on this platform by the end of 2025,” she added.
In terms of market performance, she disclosed a promising year for the Ghana Stock Exchange.
“The Composite Index is up 40% year-to-date as of October, compared to 27.89% during the same period in 2023, and the financial stock index has rebounded with a 17.6% increase.” she said. The Managing Director noted that these advancements underscore GSE’s commitment to expanding access and fostering growth through technology-driven initiatives, creating a more integrated and robust market for investors within Ghana and across Africa.
