Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s Finance Minister, has urged Ghanaians to lend their support to the government as it works tirelessly to maintain a stable cedi.
Speaking at the Official launch of the Cedi@60 at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday, October 28, the Finance Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable Ghana Cedi, further cautioning citizens to desist from activities that undermine the value of the Ghana Cedi.
According to Dr. Forson, 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 averred.
“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 maintained that while the government is taking steps to sustain recent gains, citizens also have a responsibility to safeguard the currency, cautioning 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.”
The Ghana Cedi, first launched as the national Currency in 1965, replaced the British pound, which, hitherto, was Ghana’s official currency even after Independence in 1957.
This year marks six decades, and is being celebrated on the Theme: “60 Years of the Cedi: A Symbol of Sovereignty, Stability and Economic Resilience.”
This symbolises 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.
As announced by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Government remains optimistic that sustained discipline, coupled with stronger oversight of currency practices, will reinforce confidence in the Cedi and support long-term economic growth.