Nume Ekeghe
A leading pan-African credit rating agency, Agusto & Company Limited, recently expanded its market presence and held its first seminar in Ghana. The seminar, titled “The Impact of Credit Ratings on the Debt Capital Market in Ghana,” was a breakfast event that brought together key stakeholders, including market participants and regulators.
During the seminar, Mr. Augustine Simons, Head of Ghana’s Fixed Income Market, Mr. Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director of African Subsidiaries at Access Bank Plc, and Mrs. Yinka Adelekan, Group Managing Director of Agusto & Co., discussed the importance of expanding funding options for financial institutions and companies in the real sector. The goal is to enhance liquidity while promoting sustainable growth and development.
Mr. Kumapayi highlighted the funding challenges faced by African institutions, such as limited access to capital markets, high costs, limited credit ratings, and exchange rate volatility. He also emphasized the various funding opportunities available, including blended finance options, securitization, structured financing, and green and social impact bonds. He urged banks operating in Africa to adopt international best practices in governance, regulation, and compliance to build confidence among both domestic and international investors.