Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, used the official launch of the Cedi @ 60 Celebration to publicly reaffirm the government’s dedication to ensuring a strong and stable Cedi. He specifically credited recent positive movements in the currency’s valuation to the administration’s “strong commitment to fiscal discipline.” Beyond policy statements, the Minister issued a direct appeal to the citizenry, urging them to actively participate in preserving the national currency’s integrity.
A central point of his address was the necessity for Ghanaians to treat the Cedi with dignity as the nation’s exclusive legal tender, strongly cautioning against the prevalent practice of pricing goods and services in the US dollar, which he stated is actively detrimental to Ghana’s economic health.
Dr. Ato Forson delivered a firm rebuke to this dollarization trend, declaring pointedly, “Let me use this opportunity to remind Ghanaians that the US dollar is not our currency… Let’s stop it!” This call to action underscores the government’s desire to see the Cedi fully embraced in domestic transactions as the country commemorates six decades since its introduction.
The Minister framed the Cedi not just as a medium of exchange, but as a vital symbol of the nation’s sovereignty and economic self-determination that requires collective safeguarding by all citizens.
Concluding his remarks, the Finance Minister asked the populace to fundamentally shift their perception of the national currency. He encouraged Ghanaians to actively trade with the Cedi, defend it, and speak of it with pride, positioning it as a “badge of economic independence” rather than a persistent economic burden. As Ghana marks this significant sixty-year milestone for its currency, Dr. Ato Forson rallied the people to use the occasion to re-dedicate themselves to the national goal of building the Ghana they aspire to achieve.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
