Cedi@60: Finance minister urges citizens to help protect Ghana’s currency

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the stability of the Ghana Cedi, urging citizens to support efforts to protect the currency from practices that undermine its value.

Speaking at the official launch of the Cedi@60 celebrations on Tuesday, October 28, at the Accra International Conference Centre, the Minister said the 60th anniversary of the national currency represents a “new dawn” in Ghana’s pursuit of economic sovereignty and resilience.

“For 60 years, through cycles of inflation, devaluation, re-denomination and recovery, the Cedi remains the symbol of our national sovereignty. It has indeed endured,” he said.

“Our commitment to fiscal discipline has contributed to the strengthening of the Ghana Cedi… We shall stay the course to ensure that the Ghana Cedi remains stable.”

He stressed that while the government is taking steps to sustain recent gains, citizens also have a responsibility to safeguard the currency. He cautioned against quoting prices in foreign currency — especially the US dollar — describing it as a practice that weakens confidence in the Cedi and distorts the local market.

“As citizens, we also have a role to play,” he noted. “We must maintain the sanctity of the Cedi as legal tender by preserving it with dignity and protecting it jealously. We must eschew acts that seek to undermine the value of the currency, particularly the pricing of goods and services in foreign currency.”

This year marks six decades since Ghana replaced the Ghanaian pound with the Cedi in 1965, a landmark shift that affirmed the nation’s monetary independence. The Cedi@60 celebration is being held under the theme: “60 Years of the Cedi: A Symbol of Sovereignty, Stability and Economic Resilience.”

The event reflects heightened public interest in the performance of the Cedi in recent years, amid inflation pressures, global economic shocks and local reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability.

Government says it remains optimistic that sustained discipline, coupled with stronger oversight of currency practices, will reinforce confidence in the Cedi and support long-term economic growth.