Public urged to deepen investment knowledge to build wealth

By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi

Ghanaians have been urged to strengthen their understanding of investment products in order to overcome fear and build long-term wealth.

“So many people aspire to own homes, start businesses, further their education or retire comfortably, yet hesitate to invest because of past industry challenges,” Business Development Manager at Fidelity Securities Limited, Anane-Appiah, has said.

According to her, investing remains one of the most effective ways to grow money, preserve its value and generate additional income.

She explained that inflation continues to erode the value of idle funds, making investment a necessity. “If your money is not working, inflation will reduce what it can buy. When you invest at rates equal to or above inflation, you protect your purchasing power,” she noted.

She was speaking to the B&FT on the sidelines of a media training organised by Fidelity Bank Ghana for selected journalists in the Western and Central Regions at Takoradi.

The training was to enhance financial literacy and deepen understanding of the banking industry. With an interactive session which covered: an overview of the banking sector in Ghana, a practical guide to interpreting financial statements for accurate reporting.

The training formed part of the bank’s broader effort to foster stronger media engagement and build capacity in financial reporting.

Mrs. Anane-Appiah acknowledged that fears surrounding investment are valid, especially following episodes where individuals lost funds. However, she said these concerns can be addressed through proper understanding of financial products and the risks associated with them.

She pointed to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme as a reminder of the importance of diversification, stressing that putting all funds into one product or asset type exposes investors to reduced resilience during market shocks.

She added that the challenges that came with the domestic debt exchange and the pressure the industry faced were systemic. They did not originate from any specific fund manager or institution.

Mrs. Anane-Appiah further noted that market volatility also causes panic among investors, but falling prices could present buying opportunities for those investing for the long term.

“For short-term needs, people can opt for more stable, low-volatility investments,” she advised.

On trust issues, she encouraged Ghanaians to conduct due diligence, ask questions and choose institutions with credible track records.

She outlined a variety of investment options available to the Ghanaian public, including money market instruments, equities, corporate and government bonds, real estate, entrepreneurship and exchange-traded funds.

She said Fidelity Securities also offers a range of collective investment schemes such as the Fidelity Money Market Trust, Fidelity Balanced Fund and Fidelity Fixed Income Trust, tailored to different risk levels and financial goals. The company also provides private wealth management for individuals seeking personalised services.

According to her, collective investment schemes remain accessible to all, since investors can start with amounts as low as GH¢10, GH¢20 or GH¢100 while still benefitting from professional management and diversification.

She encouraged the public to start investing early, even with small amounts, to build a stronger financial future.

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