CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF THE GHANA STOCK EXCHANGE

The study investigated the challenges and prospects of the Ghana Stock Exchange. It also sought to ascertain the level of public awareness of the Stock Exchange and discover the availability of prospects on the Stock Exchange. The study design was cross sectional. Stratified and simple random, sampling methods were used for the study. Four set of questionnaire were used to collect data from listed companies, unlisted companies, Staff of Ghana Stock Exchange and individual investors. Descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out. The result revealed that the stakeholders expected higher performance compared to the actual performance of the Exchange. Also key challenges confronting the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) are liquidity challenges, low patronage by Ghanaian firms, low earnings, strict regulations and low media attention. The prospects include safe and sound political environment for investment and favourable tax policies. Thus the government need to take real pragmatic measures to boost the market in order to increase investors’ confidence. Also the media should be seen reporting more on Stock trading activities as well as including Stock market and trading activities into the Ghanaian educational curriculum so that before student gets into senior secondary school, the awareness would have been created. Key words: Ghana Stock Exchange, stock listing, listed firms, unlisted firms, firm performanc