Float shares when market is bullish - Abor

Fledgling Ghanaian businesses should consider ceding some amount of ownership when the market is bullish in order to expand their frontiers, Prof Joshua Yindenaba Abor, Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, has admonished.

Speaking on the first edition of a business series dubbed ‘Think Ahead’ on Class91.3FM in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Finance professor explained that there was more value in expansion because a 100 per cent ownership of a GHS10,000 business is not worth a 20 per cent ownership in a GHS5billion business.

“Study the market and when the market is bullish, you can list on the stock market…when the market is bearish, do not go public,” he stated.

To this end, Prof Abor commended the Ghana Stock Exchange for introducing the Ghana Alternative Exchange (GAX), which focuses on small businesses with potential for growth.

The business consultant was of the view that “business ownership should not be static” and advised entrepreneurs to desist from limiting themselves to small dividends or small profits when there is a huge potential for expansion.

He said diversification was another way to grow as an entrepreneur where profits from one venture are invested into another type of business.

For him, it is advisable to spread the risks of the business hence the floating of shares so that, in turn, the profits are also huge.



For her part, Head of ACCA Ghana, Doris Yaa Aggrey Ahiati, pointed out that “financing your business through the capital markets, especially the Ghana Stock Exchange, is a smart option” for any entrepreneur.

Mrs Ahiati highlighted that ACCA is very committed to protecting and promoting public interest through sound values, education on financial and allied matters, corporate governance, and other advocacy roles.

She said the association contributes to public sector growth through quality education and research, with the latest being the ‘50 Key Drivers of Change in the Public Sector’.

Mrs Ahiati indicated that ACCA achieves its set goals through collaborations with several entities including the World Bank, policy makers, academic institutions, and the media.

She was optimistic that the latest collaboration with Class91.3FM would help the listener to develop business skills and be proactive in dealing with problems to build businesses.

She said the series will be providing insightful, practical discussions, and intellectually stimulating presentations that are relevant to issues in modern businesses and the economy.

The programme airs every Tuesday on the Executive Breakfast Show from 8:30am to 9:15am and takes the form of a brief presentation of the specific subject matter under discussion while the audience are allowed to contribute and ask questions on the subject.

ACCA is the global body for professional accountants and aims to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability, and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance, and management.