Tamale, Dec 14, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, said on Friday that buying shares in an insurance company was a big time investment for the buyer and his children.

He therefore urged workers to buy shares to serve as a guarantee for their future and families when they retired.

Alhaji Idris was speaking at the launch of flotation of shares by the State Insurance Company (SIC) in Tamale on Friday. Mr. Franklin Asafo Adjei, Deputy Managing Director of SIC, said the government, sole owner of the company, was now off-loading 50 per cent of its shares for sale to the general public.

He said the floatation would enable individuals who would buy shares, to feel a sense of ownership of the company and that the programme would also help SIC to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).

Mr Adjei said 10 per cent of the shares would be allocated to the staff of the SIC and that "In the event of over subscription, the government is willing to divest a further 10 per cent of its shares". "Buying shares in the SIC is a big time investment, I therefore urge you to buy as many shares as possible to insure your future", Mr Adjei said.