THE Central Securities Depository (Gh) Limited (CSD) has successfully merged the two platforms that were used to settle transactions done in debt and equity onto a common platform. 

The merger makes it possible for the depository to interface with the two systems – the Automated Trading System (ATS) of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and the Ghana Interbank Settlement System (GIS) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

A recent press statement from the CSD said 'go-live' on the new platform has been postponed to Tuesday, March 8 from the earlier date of January 4, 2016.
The postponement of the launch date followed concerns from some stakeholders on the need for a longer notice to help ensure proper integration, the statement said.

Earlier, the CSD had explained that “the Go-Live involves the migration of all depository accounts for both debt and equity onto the new platform and the interface of the new system with the ATS of the GSE and the GIS of the BoG," the statement said.

The depository thus encouraged investors to consolidate their investments with their brokers into a single account.

It explained that "the new platform deploys the modern depository architecture developed by Millennium Information Technologies of the London Stock Exchange Group.”

It said the upgrade of the system would make it possible for the depository to maintain a single account for each investor for all asset classes following the merger of the equity and the debt.

It is also in response to the need for a more modern state of the art platform that will meet the needs of a growing market, the statement said.
"Also, there is the requirement for a platform that would facilitate the introduction of more products onto the Ghana market such as securities borrowing and lending," it said.

Features of the new platform

The statement said the new platform was a Generation 7 Product launched by MIT in 2013. It is web-based and can interface to all stakeholders by ensuring fast and secure transaction processing for registry, depository and clearing and settlement functions.

Also, the new system would provide real-time integration with trading systems and settlement banks and would be expected to help facilitate the full life cycle of various corporate actions.

Benefits
According to the release, the main driver for the upgrade is the need to install a common platform to maintain a single account for each investor for all asset classes following the merger of the GSE Depository (equity) and the Central Securities Depository (Debt) in January 2014.

"The other overriding factor is the need for a more modern state-of-the-art infrastructure that will meet the needs of a growing market. Also, there is the requirement for a platform that would facilitate the introduction of more products onto the Ghana market (such as securities borrowing and lending)," the statement added.