The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has reacted to reports suggesting that the Finance Ministry directed the shutting down of some 53 investment and fund management companies including Gold Coast Fund Management Limited.  In the said report aired on Newsnite on Joy FM Tuesday, followed a letter purportedly written by an official from the Finance Ministry instructing the SEC to take the action in order to secure to protect customers and investors' interests as well as prevent events that “that will make the government unpopular.”See the letter below:On Wednesday, however, SEC in a rejoinder stated categorically that “it was not in receipt of the said from the Ministry of Finance.”“In addition, the SEC has confirmed from the Ministry of Finance that the letter and its content did not originate from them,” it added.See the SEC letter below:We hereby retract the said publication and apologise to the SEC as well as its Director-General for the reportage.