Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has stated that confidence is fundamental to every financial market and that technological innovation must strengthen rather than compromise it. He made this statement at the Official Launch of the Central Securities Depository (CSD) investorConnect A Ring the Bell Event, Ghana Stock Exchange, in Accra on Thursday, September 17. The event marked a significant milestone in the digital transformation of Ghana's financial market infrastructure.
Dr Asiama outlined the key requirements for the CSD to protect the integrity and confidentiality of investor records. These include providing reliable authentication and account-recovery processes, ensuring service continuity and prompt response when incidents occur, giving investors a clear channel for correcting errors and resolving complaints, and communicating plainly what the platform does and does not do. He also emphasized the importance of designing the platform so that a first-time investor can use it without confusion.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana noted that investor education is crucial and must go hand in hand with financial inclusion and investor protection. He stated that digital access is valuable, but it must be accompanied by a clear understanding of investment products, risks, and responsibilities. Dr Asiama charged the leadership of the Securities and Exchange Commission to treat InvestorConnect not as an end in itself, but as a foundation for the next generation of investor services.
Dr Asiama called for a deeper and more inclusive capital market to help Ghana mobilize the long-term financing needed to support sustainable economic growth. He stressed that Ghana cannot rely solely on short-term bank deposits and conventional bank credit to finance long-term development. The Governor emphasized the importance of expanding access to capital markets and encouraging greater participation by investors.
According to Dr Asiama, a stronger capital market would give businesses and government access to a broader pool of long-term capital while supporting savings and investment. He noted that banks would remain central to financing the economy, but a deeper and more inclusive capital market would contribute to sustainable economic growth. The Governor highlighted the importance of investor access to reliable information in deepening the capital market.
The launch of investorConnect represents an important step in the digital transformation of Ghana's financial market infrastructure. The platform allows investors to access their securities information directly through web and mobile applications, reducing their dependence on intermediaries for basic information about their investments. Investors can open accounts directly on the platform, have their identities verified in real-time using the Ghana Card, view securities held in their names, and review their transaction history.
Dr Asiama stated that the ability of investors to see, understand, and trust what they own is critical to market confidence. He noted that the journey from Ghana's first securities depository to the platform launched today is evidence of what sustained institutional vision and investment can achieve. The Bank of Ghana remains committed to supporting the CSD in its work to keep the platform secure, reliable, and increasingly accessible.
Key points
- Dr Asiama emphasizes the importance of technology in strengthening confidence in the financial market.
- The Governor calls for a deeper and more inclusive capital market to support sustainable economic growth.
- The launch of investorConnect marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of Ghana's financial market infrastructure.
