adverts
Vice President Launches Cedi@60, Calls for Discipline and Unity to Protect Ghana’s Currency
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on Ghanaians to renew their commitment to protecting and preserving the Ghana cedi, describing the nation’s currency as a living symbol of sovereignty, resilience, and economic identity.
Speaking at the launch of the Cedi@60 Anniversary in Accra, the Vice President said the milestone offers both a moment of celebration and a time for reflection on Ghana’s economic journey, urging citizens and institutions alike to sustain the hard-won stability the country has achieved.
“As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our cedi, let us also reflect on our economic identity and on our future,” she began. “The cedi represents our history, our values, and our capacity to express value on our own terms.”
adverts
Tracing the origins of Ghana’s currency, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang recalled that the cedi, introduced in July 1965 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, replaced the Ghanaian pound, shillings, and pence — a bold step toward freeing the nation’s economy from colonial frameworks.
“The cedi, drawn from the cowry shell, symbolised that our history did not begin with colonisation — that sovereignty can also be found in our ability to transact in our own terms,” she explained.
She described the cedi as a “social contract”—one that mirrors Ghanaians’ confidence in their institutions and economy. A strong and stable currency, she said, affects every aspect of life: from business planning and foreign investment to the affordability of school fees, farm inputs, and household goods.
“Macroeconomic stability must not be treated as an abstract achievement,” she stressed. “It must be seen as the quality of life for every Ghanaian.”
The Vice President highlighted Ghana’s recovery from past economic turbulence, noting that the cedi — once labelled the world’s worst-performing currency in 2022 — has now earned recognition as the best-performing currency globally in 2025, according to Bloomberg.
She credited disciplined economic management for the turnaround, pointing to a dramatic drop in inflation from 54.1% to 13.7% and an increase in gross international reserves to over $12 billion.
“Confidence is returning to the markets, to investors, and slowly but surely, to our people,” she said. “But trust in the cedi will not sustain itself—it must be maintained through sound decisions, transparent actions, and accountable policies.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasised that sustaining the cedi’s strength requires collective responsibility. She urged government, Parliament, and citizens to uphold fiscal discipline and resist actions that undermine economic progress.
“Government must lead by example — no more reckless borrowing or surging deficits that pass today’s problems to tomorrow’s generations,” she warned.
“Every loan must be tied to a return, and every cedi spent must have corresponding value.”
She also called for protection of the central bank’s independence, praising the Bank of Ghana’s leadership under Dr Johnson Asiama and its collaboration with the Ministry of Finance led by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
“The Bank of Ghana must remain a steward of stability. The cedi is our only legal tender. Too many goods and services are still priced in foreign currencies—this must stop,” she said firmly.
Highlighting the evolving landscape of finance, the Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital transformation through the e-Cedi, a central bank digital currency designed to modernise Ghana’s payment systems.
“The e-Cedi will ensure that even in a cashless future, our currency retains its importance,” she explained. “But as we innovate, we must also ensure digital inclusion so that no Ghanaian is left behind.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang paid tribute to Dr Kwame Nkrumah and past Bank of Ghana governors for laying the foundations of Ghana’s financial independence, as well as to the “quiet dedication” of citizens who have kept the economy running through six decades of change.
“As we buy, sell, borrow, save, and even repay debts, we must remember that the cedi has been a symbol of our national identity and aspiration for 60 years,” she said. “Let us protect it with pride and discipline.”
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
