GHANA: OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP TEAMS UP WITH IC SECURITIES FOR KEY ANALYSIS OF MARKETS IN FIRST-TIME REPORT

19 July 2011, Publication set to explore African State's financial outlook on back of oil discovery

Ghana, 18 July 2011: Oxford Business Group (OBG), the global publishing, research and consultancy firm, has brought an added dimension to its first publication on Ghana's economy by teaming up with IC Securities (Ghana) Limited.

The investment banking, asset management and securities brokerage company will produce key analysis in the Capital Markets Chapter of The Report: Ghana 2011, the Group's forthcoming business guide on the African State's economic activity and investment opportunities.

IC Securities provides services in investment banking, asset management and securities brokerage to sovereign, institutional, corporate and retail clients looking to access local and global capital markets and asset classes across Africa. The company is a Licensed Dealing Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange and also operates as an investment advisor and research information provider.

OBG's Country Director, Elise Postigo, welcomed IC Securities on board for the Group's forthcoming project, adding that the company's leading product knowledge and expertise on the markets would give The Report: Ghana 2011 an edge.

“Political stability and economic diversification have provided solid foundations for Ghana's development and this has been buoyed by the country's major oil discovery,” she said. “IC Securities has its finger on the pulse of the markets both in Ghana and across the region, with firsthand experience in financial structuring and a network of strategic and commercial alliances. I am delighted that we will be working closely with its team on our highly-anticipated first report which marks a milestone for both the Group and Ghana.”

The CEO of IC Securities David Awuah-Darko said he expected OBG's launch report to be instrumental in providing international investors with key business intelligence on how Ghana's oil reserves were redefining its economic outlook.

“These are exciting times for Ghana; its markets reflect the heightened economic activity taking place here as we witnessed with Tullow Oil's move to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange,” he said. “The addition of the oil and gas exploration and production group marks the first listing of an international, upstream oil player and is expected to be followed by further activity.”

Awuah-Darko voiced his confidence that The Report: Ghana 2011 would prove to be a valuable tool for business leaders as they make their investment decisions. “Oxford Business Group has carved out a reputation as a market leader on emerging economies,” he said. “I am delighted to be collaborating with its team on this inaugural report which is set to fill a void by providing comprehensive data on Ghana's changing economic landscape.”

The Report: Ghana 2011 will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. The report will include a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors together with a wide range of interviews with the most prominent political, economic and business leaders, including the President of Ghana John Evans Atta Mills.

Other leading personalities giving their views on Ghana's economic development include the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, the President of the ECOWAS Commission James Victor Gbeho, and the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai. The Report: Ghana 2011 will also include a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors and a wide-ranging analysis of the country's telecoms sector. It will be available in print form or online.

About Oxford Business Group
Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Through its range of print and online products, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, insurance, energy, transport, industry and telecoms. The Report: Ghana 2011 is produced in partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), IC Securities, Deloitte and Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah (BE&LA).

The critically acclaimed economic and business reports have become the leading source of business intelligence on developing countries in the regions they cover. OBG's online updates provide up-to-date in-depth analysis on the issues that matter for tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide. OBG's consultancy arm offers tailor-made market intelligence and advice to firms currently operating in these markets and those looking to enter them.

For more information please contact:
Oxford Business Group, Dubai, PO Box 502 659, Dubai, UAE

Kate Taylor, PR Manager
Phone: +971 44 264 642
E-mail: [email protected]