The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has launched the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Ghana cedi, calling on Ghanaians to work together to preserve the hard-won stability of the national currency.
Reflecting on the history of the cedi, the Vice President said it was in July 1965 that Ghana replaced the British pound, shillings, and pence with its own currency as part of Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s vision to free the economy from colonial control.
“By adopting the cedi, Ghana sent a signal that our history did not begin with colonisation, that independence and sovereignty may be found in our ability to express value and transact on our own terms,” she said.
Speaking at a ceremony in Accra yesterday to officially open the “Cedi at 60” celebration, the Vice President said the stability of the cedi should not be viewed as a technical economic matter but as a shared national responsibility that affects every Ghanaian.
“The stability of the cedi is a collective responsibility; government, institutions, and citizens all have roles to play in protecting what we have rebuilt,” she said.
She noted that after years of economic challenges, the cedi had made an impressive recovery.
“According to Bloomberg, the Ghana cedi, branded the worst performing currency in the world in 2022, became in 2025 the best performing currency globally,” she said.
Inflation, she added, had fallen from a high of 54.1 per cent to 13.7 per cent, while gross international reserves had risen to over 12 billion US dollars.
“Confidence is returning to the markets, to investors, and slowly but surely to our people,” she said.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that maintaining the recovery required discipline, transparency, and commitment from all sectors, adding that confidence must be maintained with sound decisions, transparent actions, and accountable policies.
She urged the government to lead by example through real fiscal discipline, realistic revenue targets, efficient spending, and long-term planning.
“No more reckless borrowing or surging deficits that pass today’s problems to tomorrow’s generations; Let every loan be tied to a return and every cedi spent to a corresponding value,” she explained.
The Vice President also underscored the importance of protecting the independence of the Bank of Ghana, describing it as “a steward of stability”, and called for the enforcement of the cedi’s legal tender status, noting that too many goods and services are still quoted in foreign currencies.
“If you earn in cedis, you must be able to transact in cedis,” she said.
She commended the Ministry of Finance, under Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Bank of Ghana, led by Governor Dr Johnson Asiama, for their efforts in restoring stability and confidence through sound monetary policies and strong public engagement.
The Vice President also highlighted the central bank’s role in promoting innovation, including the regulation of virtual asset service providers, fintech development, and the introduction of the electronic cedi (E-cedi).
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG & KINGSLEY ASARE
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
