Abena Amoah’s ascent to the position of Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange is the result of more than two decades of exceptional leadership in investment banking, financial advisory, market development, and corporate governance. Her career trajectory reflects both technical mastery and visionary thinking—qualities that have proven indispensable as Ghana’s capital markets undergo rapid transformation.

Before joining the GSE as its MD, Amoah served as the founder and Managing Director of Baobab Advisors, a boutique advisory firm dedicated to raising growth capital for African businesses. Through Baobab Advisors, she successfully mobilized over $100 million in capital, facilitating multiple company listings on both the Ghana Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Her work bridged gaps between emerging African enterprises and global investors, accelerating the continent’s integration into international financial markets.

Her appointment to lead the GSE marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Exchange, signaling a new era of growth, innovation, and inclusivity. Under her leadership, the GSE Composite Index (GSE-CI) posted a staggering 56.17% return in 2024—the highest since 2013. This impressive performance positioned Ghana’s stock market among Africa’s best-performing bourses, a distinction it continues to uphold in 2025 with a YTD growth of 27.19%.

Transforming the Ghana Stock Exchange

Founded in 1990, the Ghana Stock Exchange plays a crucial role in the country’s economic development, offering companies a platform to access long-term capital and providing investors with opportunities to build wealth. Despite facing structural challenges over the years—including low liquidity, limited product diversity, and macroeconomic headwinds—the GSE under Amoah’s leadership has embarked on a comprehensive modernization drive.

Her tenure has been characterized by a focus on deepening market participation, enhancing corporate governance standards, and promoting financial literacy among retail investors. Notably, she has championed initiatives aimed at encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets through alternative platforms like the Ghana Alternative Market (GAX).

Abena Amoah has also prioritized technological innovation at the GSE. She has overseen significant investments in digital trading infrastructure, making it easier for brokers and investors to participate in the market remotely. This modernization effort became particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the GSE maintain operations and resilience even amid global disruptions.

Moreover, her leadership has emphasized the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in investment practices—a trend increasingly demanded by international investors and crucial for sustainable economic development across Africa.

Broad Impact Beyond the GSE

Beyond her direct role at the Ghana Stock Exchange, Abena Amoah’s influence extends widely across Africa’s financial ecosystem. She has served as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of several major institutions, including Coronation Insurance Ghana and Access Bank Ghana, where she provided strategic oversight and governance expertise.

Her contributions to public service and development finance are equally notable. She played a leading role in the African Women’s Development Fund, an organization dedicated to empowering women across the continent through targeted financial support. As Vice Chair of the Fund, Amoah advocated for more inclusive financial systems that promote gender equality and broad-based economic participation.

Additionally, she spearheaded the early development of the WestPark Industrial Park in Ghana, a $250 million project aimed at creating a world-class industrial hub to boost manufacturing, logistics, and job creation.

Academic Excellence and Global Perspective

Amoah’s academic credentials are as distinguished as her professional achievements. She graduated with First-Class honors in Accounting from the University of Ghana, one of the country’s premier institutions. Further enhancing her leadership capabilities, she completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business—two of the world’s most prestigious business education centers.

Her global exposure has imbued her with a broad, strategic perspective on finance and economic development, enabling her to align the GSE’s operations with international best practices while tailoring solutions to the specific needs of African markets.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for Africa’s Capital Markets

Abena Amoah’s leadership at the Ghana Stock Exchange exemplifies the new generation of African financial executives committed to driving inclusive, sustainable growth. She envisions a future where African stock markets are deeper, more liquid, and more interconnected, offering investors a compelling alternative to more mature markets.

With African economies projected to account for an increasingly larger share of global GDP by 2050, the role of stock exchanges in mobilizing investment, financing infrastructure, and empowering entrepreneurs will only grow more critical. Leaders like Abena Amoah are not just overseeing financial institutions—they are architects of Africa’s economic future.

As Ghana’s stock market continues to perform strongly in 2025, Abena Amoah remains a beacon of the transformative leadership needed to unlock Africa’s vast economic potential.