Accra, Ghana//-Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) says its partnership with the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) is bearing fruitful results as the media keep providing credible information on the local bourse.
Executives of the GSE said this at the IFEJ’s capacity building workshop dubbed-‘Time With GSE’ held in Accra.
The partnership between the GSE and IFEJ also aims to equip financial journalists with the knowledge, skills and tools to bring clarity, balance, and accuracy to financial reporting on the Exchange.
By working together, they could shape narratives that inspire confidence and drive growth in Ghana’s capital market, according to both parties.
In a speech read for the Director-General of the GSE, Frank Berle, by the Head of Trading and Surveillance of GSE, Madam Harriet Bus-Moses, noted: “Our partnership with the media is therefore not just important — it is essential”.
For over three decades, the media has walked hand-in-hand with the Ghana Stock Exchange, reporting on our activities, helping us educate the public, and bringing visibility to the companies that list with us”.
We deeply value this longstanding relationship and see you, the financial and economic journalists, as critical partners in nation-building through the capital markets, Mr Berle added.
Commendations
He used the opportunity to commend all the media houses that published stories on dividend payments by most corporates this year and on the redemption of the Commercial Paper issued by FEDCO a few months ago.
“These stories drive interest, market participation, and boost investor confidence. This training programme is designed to deepen your understanding of corporate disclosures, so you can go beyond the headlines and share stories that truly empower investors, businesses, and the public”.
Demystifying Corporate Disclosures
Touching on the topic: “Demystifying Corporate Disclosures: Telling Powerful Stories from Corporate Announcements”, the Director-General of the GSE indicated: “With the right knowledge and tools, you can help demystify technical information and bring clarity, balance, and accuracy to financial reporting”.
The Exchange, according to Mr Berle, has always believed that strong, transparent, and timely communication is the lifeblood of any capital market.
Corporate disclosures are not just numbers or statutory filings; they are the stories of businesses — their challenges, opportunities, and journeys of growth, he noted.
When these disclosures are well understood and well told, they build trust, guide investment decisions, and strengthen the link between companies and the investing public, Mr Berle further added.
Taking the economic and financial journalists throw a presentation, Managing Director of FirstBanC Brokerage Services Ltd, Edem Akpenyo admitted: “Investing is often perceived as complex and intimidating for the average individual”.
He, however, said journalists have the power to demystify financial markets by interpreting corporate information in ways that resonate with readers.
“Journalists’ well-honed storytelling skills could well be a tool for fostering an investment culture in a population, especially the youth, who may be more attracted now to betting but are the potential Big investors of the future”, Mr Akpenyo said.
Take advantage
The President of the IFEJ, Raybon Bulley, who led members of the IFEJ, underscored the importance of financial journalists taking advantage of the formal training programmes offered by the GSE to enhance their understanding of the Exchange and its operations.
He therefore urged the IFEJ members to leverage the expertise of the GSE’s lecturers as valuable resource persons who could provide them with insights and knowledge that could improve the quality of financial reporting.
Mr Bulley also called on the financial journalists to network effectively with the GSE’s lecturers and other experts in the field, highlighting the potential benefits of collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
“By doing so, journalists could gain a deeper understanding of the stock market and its dynamics, enabling them to produce more informed and insightful reports that would benefit the public and the financial community,” he said.
Performance of the GSE
The GSE has recorded a strong performance so far this year, with the GSE Composite Index gaining 50.08% year-to-date, while the Financial Stock Index advanced by 43.30%. The Ghana Fixed Income Market also saw a significant increase in trading volume, reaching GH₵ 143.21 billion.
