The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this week launched its maiden Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP) to serve as the blueprint for developing the capital market in Ghana over the next ten years.
The CMMP which was developed by a Working Group drawn from key stakeholders in the financial sector is an essential component of the SEC’s mandate of regulating innovating and promoting the growth and development of an efficient, fair, and transparent securities market in which investors and the integrity of the market are protected.
Speaking at the launch of CMMP, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta in his keynote address underscored the importance of the capital market.
He noted that under the leadership of His Excellency, the hundred billion (GHS 100 billion) Ghana Cares/Obatanpa program had been launched to stabilize the economy as well as trigger a revitalization and transformation.
The program among others has the goal of optimising the implementation of the Government’s current growth and transformation flagships. He noted that improving access to long-term finance would be a key enabler for achieving the objectives of the program, hence the need for the CMMP.
He concluded his address by reiterating Government’s deep commitment to developing Ghana’s Capital Market in helping to support the crucial Ghana Cares/Obatanpa program and make it a hugely attractive financial hub for both domestic and international investors.
On his part, the Director-General of the SEC, Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh further emphasised the importance of the capital market as the place for raising ‘patient capital’ which is critical for financing growth.
Highlighting the benefits of the Capital Market for different stakeholders. He said, “for example- for the ordinary citizen, it would enable the creation of jobs as businesses would be able to raise capital for business owners, it would also facilitate the expansion of business and create a viable avenue for investors to deploy surplus funds”.
He was confident that the Capital Market would be critical to the growth aspirations of Ghana.
The ten-year CMMP would be the engine to facilitate this important transformation through the key initiatives spelt out in the document.
The vision of the CMMP is ” In pursuant Of A Deep, Efficient, Diversified and Well-Regulated Market With A Full Range Of Products Attractive To Domestic And International Investors”.
The vision will be achieved on the back of these four (4) key pillars of the Capital Market Master Plan:
i. Improving the diversity of investment products and liquidity of securities markets (to enhance investor participation and improve market liquidity).
ii. Increasing the investor base and promoting innovation and product diversification.
iii. Strengthening infrastructure and improving market services (to improve market integrity and accessibility).
iv. Strengthening regulation, enforcement, and market confidence.
The CMMP which was unveiled at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra brought together other regulators in the financial sect, a representative from the Ghana Securities Industry Association, the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and many other key stakeholders.
