15 SOEs to be listed on the local bourse as government aims to raise Ghs 2 billion
Government is said to be seeking to list 15 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).
The move, according to the Deputy Managing Director of the GSE, Abena Amoah, is to make the selected SOEs profitable and attractive to investors.
Making the disclosure at the 10th edition of the Business and Financial Times Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) on Monday, October 18, Ms Amoah noted the GSE is currently working with the Ministry of Public Enterprises and State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) to ensure that the initiative comes into fruition.
Adding that the GSE in its analysis and assessment shows the 15 SOEs are currently performing quite well among some 100 SOEs and listing them on the exchange will be very attractive to investors, hence government will be able to raise its targeted Ghs 2 billion.
“The discussions on the timeframe are ongoing and what we are waiting for is the formal government approval of the first group of SOEs. We are waiting to start working with their advisors and to list them on the market,” she said.
Indeed, the GSE, since the last three years, in 2018, after the listing of MTN through an IPO, has not made any significant listing on the market through any public offer. The MTN listing, registered a record amount of over Ghs 1 billion.
Madam Amoah said one of the reasons for the need to list and float shares is to securitize revenue sources of these SOEs and to enable them to raise capital from the public for operations and not burden government for financing purposes.
The listing, according to her, will also enable government not to borrow funds to operationalize and finance activities of these SOEs.
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“More importantly, the upcoming listing would also strengthen and improve corporate governance of these SOEs through strong management boards, continuity in management and sustainable financing,” she said.
SOEs are key features of Ghana’s economy and can be sources of fiscal risks to the country’s public finances.
Most of the SOEs in a long while, tend to underperform due to a variety of factors, including fundamental problems in their governance, failing to operate like modern, autonomous and professionally run companies.
While Ghana’s 126 SOEs are valued at Ghs 110 billion, representing approximately 27 percent of the nation’s 2020 gross domestic product (GDP), almost all of these companies have been making losses in the last years.
As of the end of 2019, an aggregate net loss of Ghs 586.4 million was recorded in the SOEs sector, and this compares to a loss position of Ghs 188 million in 2018
Indeed, between 2015 and 2019, SOEs have consistently posted negative operating margins, averaging around 10 percent.
However, prudent management to generate 10 percent return on the assets can generate GH¢11 billion to the national coffers and the enterprises. This could result in the employment of more than 700,000 people in the public and civil service.
