Capital markets expert, Abena Amoah made history last month following her appointment by the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange (the Exchange) as its Deputy Managing Director. She assumed her posted on Aug. 1.
Amoah is a decorated investment banker with more than 20 years’ experience in Ghana’s capital markets. Her experience covers stock market listings and trading, mergers and acquisitions advisory, investment research, asset management, private placement of equity, debt and hybrid instruments, large infrastructure project development, and capital markets development strategies.
As the Deputy Managing Director of the Exchange, Amoah is responsible for the operational activities of the Exchange, as well as assist the Managing Director in defining and implementing the Exchange’s corporate strategies and plans, among other responsibilities.
The Managing Director of the Exchange, Ekow Afedzie, said Amoah is an outstanding woman.
“This is a critical time for the Exchange and I’m thrilled to welcome Abena and work with her closely as we modernize and transition from a frontier market to an emerging market, in alignment with Government’s plan to make Ghana the financial hub of the West African sub-region. Abena is the first female executive director of the Exchange, further proof of our commitment to championing outstanding women,” Afedzie said in a press release.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Chairman of the Exchange, Albert Essein, said he was excited about Amoah’s appointment because of her rich and diverse experience. He said Amoah has the energy needed to take the Exchange to the next level of relevance.
Abena started her humble career as an investment analyst and stockbroker, growing to build and lead top investment banks in Ghana.
She has previously worked with the BlackIvy Group LLC, where she led development of the 400-acre WestPark Industrial Park; Renaissance Group, where she was CEO of NewWorld Renaissance Securities Ltd and Head of Investment Banking & Finance in West Africa (ex-Nigeria) for Renaissance Capital; and Strategic African Securities Ltd, where she was the Executive Director of the company.
She has served on boards of companies – publicly listed, private and non-profit – such as African Women’s Development Fund, Ghana Stock Exchange, Ghana Petroleum Funds, The Foschini Group Ghana Ltd, Venture Capital Trust Fund among others and has been an advisor to the Government of Ghana and financial sector regulators in West Africa on the deepening of financial markets, earning respect in for her outstanding professionalism and integrity.
Abena is an alumna of the University of Ghana Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School and the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.
She was a founding executive of the Ghana Securities Industry Association, an Authorised Dealing Officer of the Ghana Stock Exchange and an Assessor (Capital Markets Expert) of the Commercial Division of the High Court of Ghana.
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