Cedi at 60: Ghana Marks Six Decades of Monetary Sovereignty

Ghana has launched a year-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the cedi, its national currency, under the theme “Our Currency, Our Confidence.” The milestone, first marked on July 19, 1965, symbolized Ghana’s economic independence following colonial rule and remains a potent emblem of national resilience and self-determination.

The official launch in Accra drew top officials including Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, and Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama. In remarks, the central bank framed the anniversary as both a moment of reflection and a strategic platform to bolster public understanding of monetary policy, currency integrity, and Ghana’s financial heritage.

Planned activities include a nationwide “Cedi Van” roadshow, public exhibitions, educational campaigns on clean note handling and anti-counterfeiting measures, and a high-level international currency conference convening central bankers, academics, and private-sector leaders.

“The Cedi@60 is more than a celebration of currency – it’s a reaffirmation of our confidence in Ghana’s economic future,” the Bank of Ghana stated, emphasizing efforts to instill pride in the cedi while promoting policy literacy among citizens and businesses alike.

As host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Ghana is leveraging the anniversary to underscore its role in shaping Africa’s economic integration – and to remind the world that its currency, like its ambitions, remains in circulation.