The Cedi’s 60th Anniversary
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) announced plans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Ghanaian cedi, the nation’s sole legal tender since July 19, 1965. The cedi replaced the Ghanaian Pound under Kwame Nkrumah’s leadership, marking a shift from British colonial currency to a decimal system that symbolized economic sovereignty. From July to December 2025, the country will celebrate this milestone with nationwide events, including exhibitions, educational campaigns, and stakeholder forums.
The celebrations come at a time when the cedi is performing strongly, having appreciated by 16% against the US dollar since April 2025, according to Bloomberg. This makes it the world’s best-performing currency recently, a point of pride for Ghana as its non-oil economy grew by 7.7% in Q3 2024, surpassing IMF projections. The BoG aims to use this anniversary to reflect on the cedi’s history and its role in Ghana’s economic growth.
Despite concerns, the BoG invites all Ghanaians to celebrate the cedi’s journey. The events will emphasize the currency’s resilience and importance to the nation’s identity, encouraging collective efforts to protect its value for the future.