The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ghana has held a financial literacy and investment awareness for young people in the Central Region.
The event dubbed “Time with the SEC” which was organised at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) through partnership with the Students Representative Council (SRC), School of Economics (SoE) and School of Business (SoB) brought together financial experts, academics, industry practitioners and students to discuss practical strategies for wealth creation, investor protection and the role of the capital market in national development.
Speaking at the programme, the Director-General of SEC, Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, noted that “Time with the SEC” was introduced as a flagship investor education programme to deepen public awareness of the Commission’s mandate, promote Ghana’s capital market, and help citizens make informed investment decisions.
Dr. Avedzi stated that the capital market was a national asset that the younger generation would inherit and must actively participate in. He noted that SEC’s mission was to regulate an efficient, fair and transparent capital market while protecting investors and maintaining market integrity.
“The future professionals sitting in our lecture halls today must also become future investors. We want to demystify the capital market and make wealth creation opportunities accessible to every Ghanaian,” he said.
Dr. Avedzi cautioned participants against investing in schemes that promise unrealistic returns without regulatory approval.
“If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true and is not licensed by the SEC, it should be avoided. The experiences of many Ghanaians who have lost money through fraudulent schemes should serve as a lesson to all of us,” he warned.
The Dean of UCC School of Business, Prof. Samuel Kwaku Agyei, described investment as a key driver of national development and commended the collaboration between the University and SEC.
Prof. Agyei expressed concern about the growing attraction of many young people to gambling and other schemes that promise quick wealth, observing that such practices discourage long-term investment behaviour.
“Many young people have been made to believe that investment is only for the elderly. Others are attracted to shortcuts to success. We need to prepare them with the right tools, knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions and cultivate a culture of investment,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. Sarfo Sarfo Kantanka, who represented the Provost, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, advocated a sustained nationwide financial education programme to help young people develop positive financial habits and appreciate the value of investing for the future.
The Dean of the School of Economics, Prof. Isaac Dasmani, described the programme as both timely and impactful, noting that misinformation and inadequate understanding of financial products continue to expose many people to investment risks and fraudulent schemes.
He explained that financial literacy plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion, helping individuals identify risks and take preventive measures when making investment decisions. He added that closer collaboration between academia and industry broadens knowledge, strengthens financial behaviour and equips individuals with practical skills for wealth creation.
The Executive Director of the Young Investors Network, Mr. Joshua Mensah, described financial literacy as an essential life skill that empowers young people with knowledge and opportunities for growth.
He explained that changing the mindset of the youth towards responsible investing was critical to building a financially resilient society and ensuring that more young people take advantage of legitimate investment opportunities.
Discussions at the programme focused on the SEC’s role in regulating the capital market, practical strategies for growing wealth through investment, understanding shares, bonds and other investment products, identifying and avoiding investment fraud, practical steps for beginning an investment journey, leveraging opportunities within the capital market, and career prospects in finance and the capital market industry.
