President John Dramani Mahama has said that the next chapter of the Ghana cedi must be defined by discipline, innovation and institutional strength as the country navigates an increasingly complex global monetary landscape.
He said while the cedi had played a central role in the country’s economic journey for six decades, its future hinged on deliberate reforms that reinforced credibility and resilience.
Consequently, the President outlined five core pillars that would shape the cedi’s next era. They are sustained macroeconomic discipline, a strong and inclusive financial sector, technological innovation and digital transformation, enhanced public literacy and responsible currency use; and an unwavering, independent, confident central bank.
Addressing the Cedi@60 anniversary currency conference in Accra yesterday, he said the pillars reflected not only economic priorities but the aspirations of citizens for a stable currency that supported growth, protected livelihoods and strengthened national identity.
Event
The Cedi@60 anniversary currency conference was hosted by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in partnership with Currency Research.
The three-day conference, which started on November 17, this year, will end on November 20, 2025. It is a landmark event which has brought together leaders from across Africa and beyond to reflect on the currency’s legacy and chart its digital future.
It hosted about 800 delegates from Africa and beyond.
Next phrase
President Mahama said the next phase of the currency must make Ghana thrive within Africa’s emerging payment architecture, especially through systems like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which would allow businesses to trade seamlessly in local currencies under AfCFTA.
He explained that the Cedi@60 milestone was not merely a celebration of history but a moment to set a clear vision for the currency’s evolution.
“So, the cedi symbolises our national aspiration to govern ourselves, regulate our markets and stand shoulder to shoulder with other nations in managing our own monetary destinies.
“Over 60 years now the cedi has anchored the conduct of our monetary policy. It has shaped the expectations of households and businesses.
It has absorbed shocks domestically, regionally and globally, symbolising the resilience of the Ghanaian economy and the Ghanaian people,” the President said.
Currency’s role
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson P. Asiama, said the bank remained acutely aware of the central role the currency played in shaping both the economy and the daily lives of citizens.
Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor, BoG
He explained that the currency had long symbolised the pride, ambition and resilience of a young nation determined to define its own economic destiny.
Going forward, the Governor said that young citizens would engage with the cedi through increasingly digital and transparent systems, making institutional trust essential to the currency’s future relevance.
He said the global shifts—ranging from digital payments and CBDC innovations to artificial intelligence and geopolitical uncertainty demanded steady leadership and coordinated strategies to protect the nation’s monetary stability.
“Advances in artificial intelligence are redefining authentication, security and lifecycle management. At the same time, global uncertainty, geopolitical realignments and technology dependence create new vulnerabilities for economies like ours.
“These shifts are already shaping how Ghanaians earn, save, trade, and secure their futures.
They call for steady leadership, clarity in strategy and stronger coordination across institutions.
“Our work on payments modernisation and the eCedi reflects our commitment to secure and interoperable forms of value, grounded in Ghana’s realities and informed by global lessons,” Dr Asiama said.
