Despite listed companies suffering from regional and international difficulties, the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has recorded profits for two straight years.
The Exchange increased its 2020 surplus by 32.7%, from GHC 23.5 million to GHC 31.13 million, making it the greatest profit in the 31-year history of the Accra Stock Exchange.
The increase led to the GSE’s revenue reaching GH52.36 million in the reviewed period, an increase of 33.34 percent over the GH39.3 million reported in 2020.
This came in a year when the equities market appreciated by 43.66 percent; the highest in more than a decade. However, it was the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM) – which had its best performance since its inception in 2015 – that was most responsible for the growth in this segment.
A perusal of the data – which were made available when the GSE held its 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) – showed that the bond market accounted for 89.3 percent of revenue, contributing GH¢46.75million.
Revenue from equities dropped by 11.76 percent to GH¢5.48million, compared to GH¢6.21million in the previous year.
A further breakdown of the revenue figures show that membership fees amounted to GH¢731,000 (1.4 percent); listing fees, GH¢17.74million (33.9 percent); application fees, GH¢8million (15.3 percent); commission on trade, GH¢25.75million (49.2 percent); course and seminar fees, GH¢1,200; and sale of data and Publications, GH¢136,775 (0.3 percent).
Also, the GSE’s accumulated fund amounted to GH¢107.63million, with its Reserve Fund Investment growing by 58 percent to GH¢32.38million.
Its Ghana Alternative Market (GAX) Fund Investment – which was set up in 2014 by the Exchange in partnership with the Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a listing support system – stood at GH¢1.4million. The Exchange’s contribution at end of the period accounted for 62 percent and VCTF’s 38 percent.
Demutualisation
Among a raft of measures the GSE is undertaking in its quest to evolve from a frontier market to an emerging market in the medium-term is demutualisation – the transition of a stock exchange from a mutual association of exchange members operating on a not-for-profit basis to a limited liability company operating for profit and accountable to shareholders.
Chairperson of the GSE’s Board, Abena Osei-Poku, is optimistic that the process will be concluded in the near-term as progress continues on all fronts.
“The GSE’s demutualisation is progressing steadily and stakeholder discussions have been held with Licenced Dealing Members (LDMs), Associate Members, GFIM members and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Others such as the Bank of Ghana and Ministry of Finance will also be consulted,†she said.
Mrs. Osei-Poku added that an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will be organised immediately after relevant documents are finalised and approval is granted by members.
This sentiment was similarly expressed by the bourse’s Managing Director, Ekow Afedzie, who explained that demutualisation will not only drive efficiency in the GSE’s operations but also in listed companies.
“We will see increased efficiency in running the Exchange, and that will help in bringing more companies onboard.â€
