By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has called on Ghanaians to protect and uphold the Ghana Cedi as a symbol of national pride and economic sovereignty as the nation celebrates six decades of its currency.
Speaking at the launch of the Cedi@60 Anniversary Celebration at the Accra International Conference Centre, Dr. Forson described the Cedi as more than a medium of exchange, noting that it embodies Ghana’s identity, resilience, and progress through various phases of the country’s economic history.
Since 1965, the Cedi has not just been a store of value but an integral part of our heritage,” Dr. Forson stated. “For 60 years, through inflation, devaluation, redenomination and recovery, the Cedi has remained the symbol of our national sovereignty. It has endured, it has evolved, and it remains the only legal tender of our Republic.”
The Finance Minister emphasized that the anniversary theme, “60 Years of the Cedi: A Symbol of Sovereignty, Stability and Economic Resilience,” reflects the need for renewed faith in Ghana’s local currency.
He highlighted that the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and sound economic management continues to anchor the stability of the Cedi, assuring that the Ministry will maintain measures that strengthen its performance in both domestic and international markets.
Dr. Forson also appealed to businesses and individuals to desist from pricing goods and services in foreign currencies, warning that such practices undermine the value of the Cedi and distort the local economy.
“The US dollar is not our currency,” he cautioned. “The continuous pricing of goods and services in US dollars will only hurt us. Let’s stop it! The Cedi is the only currency we have, let us protect it, trade with it, and defend it.”
He urged Ghanaians to speak positively about the Cedi and to see it not as a burden but as a “badge of economic independence”, reflecting Ghana’s sovereignty and collective resilience over the past six decades.
The Cedi@60 celebration, organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, marks sixty years since the introduction of Ghana’s national currency in 1965. It aims to foster public appreciation for the Cedi’s historical significance and renew national commitment to strengthening the economy through responsible financial practices.
“As we celebrate sixty years of the Cedi, let us rededicate ourselves to building the Ghana We Want,” Dr. Forson concluded.
