Roman Ridge School Wins GSE Financial Literacy Debate

In a fierce debate between Roman Ridge School and Alpha Beta Christian College, both in Accra, it was the casting vote of the Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Ms Abena Amoah, that broke the tie. Both schools scored 28 points each in the public-judged contest, but Ms Amoah’s decision secured victory for Roman Ridge School.

The debate, organised by the GSE as part of this year’s Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy campaign, was held on the motion: “In a digital world, are capital markets safer and more inclusive?” It aimed to inculcate students with the habit of saving and to expose them to the workings of the capital market. Alpha Beta Christian College spoke in favour of the motion, while Roman Ridge School argued against it.

The event formed part of activities under the campaign themed “Navigating Risk in the Digital Era on the Capital Market” and was organised in collaboration with the World Federation of Exchanges, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions, and the Ghana Securities Industry Association. Participants received plaques, certificates, and undisclosed cash prizes.

In an address, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, described the initiative as laudable, commending the GSE for sustaining a global campaign that promotes financial literacy, investor education, and market integrity. He highlighted that while digitalisation had transformed financial systems with efficiency and inclusion, it had also introduced complex risks such as cyberattacks, online fraud, and market manipulation. “We must ensure innovation is matched with strong risk governance, investor protection, and ethical conduct,” he stated.

Dr Forson reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s capital market through reforms, including the National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy, the Digital Financial Services Policy, and a review of the Securities Industry Act to align with international best practices. He noted that Ghana’s financial inclusion rate had reached 96 per cent by 2021, largely driven by mobile money and digital finance, and urged continued efforts to extend such progress to the capital market.

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs Deborah Mawusi Agyenfra, speaking on behalf of Dr James Kludze Avedzi, cautioned investors to be vigilant against fraudulent investment schemes that promise unrealistic returns or operate without proper registration. She stated that the SEC was actively investigating unlicensed entities and enhancing public education to rebuild investor confidence.

Ms Amoah, in her remarks, highlighted this year as a milestone for the GSE with the introduction of the GSE Capital Market Debate platform to promote financial dialogue among youth. She stated that, through partnerships, over 900,000 students across 800 schools had been reached with financial literacy education. Ms Amoah encouraged the students to debate boldly, think critically, and embrace technology responsibly, adding that financial literacy was essential to building a secure and inclusive investment culture.

By Kingsley Asare

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