The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has said that the US dollar is not the nation’s legal tender, urging the public and businesses to conduct all transactions using the Ghanaian Cedi.
Speaking at the launch of the 60th anniversary of the cedi in Accra, Dr Forson cautioned against the growing trend of pricing goods and services in foreign currencies, particularly the US Dollar, describing it as a practice that undermines the stability and integrity of the cedi and Ghana at large.
“Let me use this opportunity to once again stress that as Ghanaians, the Ghana Cedi remains the only legal tender; the US dollar is not our currency; the Cedi is our only currency,” he said.
He emphasised that trading in foreign currencies fuels exchange rate pressures and weakens confidence in the domestic economy.
“The continued pricing of goods and services in the US dollar will only hurt us; let’s stop it and let us stop it now.”
Read also: Cedi records one of its strongest performances; one dollar equals GH¢12.10 at forex bureaux
The minister, therefore, called on all citizens, traders, and institutions to demonstrate patriotism by supporting the cedi and reinforcing its use in daily economic activity.
“The Cedi is the only currency we have, let us protect it, let us trade with it and let us defend it with all vim within us. Let us talk about the Cedi with pride not as a burden.”
