Ghana Commodity Exchange Begins Full Operations Today

President Akufo-Addo is expected to outdoor the official operations of Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) today, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

The GCX is a regulated market that links buyers and sellers of commodities to trade by rules while assuring the market of quality, timely delivery, and settlement.

Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra said government currently holds 100% shares of GCX.

Oppong Nkrumah announced that the Commodity Exchange in the first twelve months will trade staple foods including maize, soybean, rice, dry beans, millet, sorghum, and groundnut.

“However, there are plans that from twelve months to twenty-four months, the GCX will trade in cashew, cocoa, timber, shear- butter and vegetables. The GCX after three years, will trade in metals, minerals, petroleum and gas” he said.

The Minister said trading through the commodity exchange will offer benefits such as standardized weights and grades of commodities, guaranteed prompt payments, access to multiple and premium buyers.

It will also offer a larger market and secured storage facilities.

There is also access to financial services and risk management tools such as insurance.

As such buyers do not have to move to gather the quantity of commodities needed.”

Oppong Nkrumah said commodity exchange would address the needs of all farmers, reduce problems like post-harvest losses and storage issues.

The commodities can also be used as collateral for loans for smallholder farmers and traders.

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