Ghanaian cedi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ghanaian cedi
Cedi banknotes
ISO 4217 Code	GHS
User(s)	Ghana
Inflation	17%
Source	Ghana Statistical Service
Subunit
1⁄100	pesewa
Symbol	GH₵
pesewa	Gp
Plural	cedis
pesewa	pesewas
Coins	10Gp, 20Gp, 50Gp, GH₵1, GH₵2
Rarely used	1Gp, 5Gp
Banknotes	GH₵1, GH₵2, GH₵5, GH₵10, GH₵20, GH₵50, GH₵100, GH₵200

The cedi (/ˈsiːdiː/ see-dee, pronounced in the same way as CD) (currency sign: GH₵; currency code: GHS) is the unit of currency of Ghana. It is the fourth historical and only current legal tender in the Republic of Ghana. One Cedi is divided into one hundred Pesewas (Gp).

After independence, Ghana separated itself from the British West African pound, which was the currency of the British colonies in the region. The new republic's first independent currency was the Ghanaian pound (1958–1965). In 1965, Ghana decided to leave the British colonial monetary system and adopt the widely accepted decimal system. The African name Cedi (1965–1967) was introduced in place of the old British pound system. Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah introduced Cedi notes and Pesewa coins in July 1965 to replace the Ghanaian pounds, shillings and pence. The Cedi bore the portrait of the President and was equivalent to eight shillings and four pence (8s 4d), i.e. one hundred old pence, so that 1 pesewa was equal to one penny.

After the February 1966 military coup, the new leaders wanted to remove the face of Nkrumah from the banknotes. The "new Cedi" (1967–2007) was worth 1.2 Cedis, which made it equal to half of a pound sterling (or ten shillings sterling) at its introduction. Decades of high inflation devalued the new Cedi, so that in 2007 the largest of the "new cedi" banknotes, the 20,000 note, had a value of about US$2. The new cedi was gradually phased out in 2007 in favor of the "Ghana Cedi" at an exchange rate of 1:10,000. By removing four digits, the Ghana Cedi became the highest-denominated currency unit issued in Africa. It has since lost over 90% of its value.

Etymology

Cedi with a cowry

The word cedi is the Akan word for cowry shell. Cowries (plural of cowry) were formerly used as currency in what is now Ghana. The Monetaria moneta or money cowry is not native to West African waters but is a common species in the Indian Ocean. The porcelain-like shells came to West Africa, beginning in the 14th century, through trade with Arab merchants. The first modern coins exclusively used at the Gold Coast were produced in 1796 but cowries were used alongside coins and gold as currency until 1901.

History

First cedi, 1965–1967

The first cedi was introduced in 1965, replacing the pound at a rate of 2.4 cedi = 1 pound, or 1 pesewa = 1 penny. The first cedi was pegged to sterling at a rate of 2.4 cedis = £1, or 8s 4d per cedi.

Second cedi (GHC), 1967–2007

The first cedi was replaced in 1967 by a "new cedi" which was worth 1.2 first cedis. This allowed a decimal conversion with the pound, namely 2 second cedis = 1 pound. The change also provided an opportunity to remove Kwame Nkrumah's image from coins and notes.

The second cedi was initially pegged to sterling at a rate of ₵2 = £1. However, within months, the second cedi was devalued to a rate of ₵2.45 = £1, less than the initial value of the first cedi. This rate was equivalent to ₵1 = 0.98 U.S. dollars and the rate to the dollar was maintained when sterling was devalued in November 1967. Further pegs were set of $0.55 in 1971, $0.78 in 1972, and $0.8696 in 1973 before the currency was floated in 1978. High inflation ensued, and so the cedi was re-pegged at ₵2.80 = $1.00.

The cedi's value continued to be eaten away on the black market. In the early 1980s, the government started cracking down on the retail of products at prices other than the official established sale price (also known as price controls). This had the effect of driving nearly all commerce underground, where black market prices for commodities were the norm, and nothing existed on store shelves. By 1983, one U.S. dollar equalled about 120 cedis on the black market; a pack of cigarettes cost about ₵150 (if they could be found), but the bank rate continued at ₵2.80 = $1.00. Finally, with foreign currency completely drying up for all import transactions, Ghana was forced to begin a process of gradual devaluation, as well as a liberalization of its strict price controls. This process ended in 1990 with a free float of the cedi against foreign currencies. Inflation continued (see the exchange rate chart) until by July 2007, one US dollar was worth about ₵9500, and a transition to the third cedi was initiated.

In 1979 a currency confiscation took place. New banknotes were issued which were exchanged for old ones at a rate of 10 old notes for 7 new ones. Coins and bank accounts were unaffected.

A second confiscation took place in 1982, when the ₵50 note (the highest denomination) was demonetized. Ghanaians, in theory, could exchange any number of ₵50 notes for coins or other banknotes without loss, but foreigners could not make any exchange. However, many Ghanaians who were hoarding large amounts of cedis feared reprisal if they tried to convert all of it, and so simply burned a lot of their money. Meanwhile, Ghanaians in the United Kingdom received "promise payment notes" from banks, but never received compensation. This confiscation of money was publicly justified as a means to create a disincentive for the flourishing black market. However, from a monetary perspective, currency confiscations have the effect of reducing available cash reserves in the economy of Ghana, thereby slowing the rate of inflation. After the ₵50 note confiscation, the ₵20 note was the highest cedi denomination, but had a street value of only about $0.35 (U.S.)

After the ₵50 note confiscation, fears existed that the government could also confiscate the ₵20 or even the ₵10 notes. This fear, along with inflation running at about 100% annually, started causing Ghanaians to lose their faith in their country's own currency. Some transactions could only then be done in foreign currencies (although that was technically illegal), and other, more routine transactions began to revert to barter.

In 1991, 10, 20, 50, and 100 cedi coins were introduced, followed by 200 and 500 cedis in 1996. These six denominations were still in circulation until 2007. However, the 10 cedis (~0.1 U.S. cents) and 20 cedis (~0.2 U.S. cents) coins were not seen much due to their small value.

Third cedi (GHS), 2007–present

Because of the rampant inflation in the decades before the exchange the second cedi was only worth a small fraction of its original value. The government decided to "cut" four zeros off the currency by switching to the third cedi. The new currency was not introduced as the third cedi but is instead officially called the "Ghanaian cedi" (GH₵), in contrast to the second cedi that was officially known as the "new cedi". In the second half of 2007 both the second and third cedi were legal tender as the old currency was being gradually withdrawn. At the end of December 2007, more than 90% of all old coins and notes had been withdrawn. From January 2008 old banknotes could only be exchanged at banks and were no longer legal tender.

On 14 May 2010, a GH₵2 banknote was issued to meet public need for an intermediate denomination and reduce the frequency, and associated cost, of printing large volumes of the GH₵1 banknote. The introduction of the new denomination coincided with the conclusion of the year-long centenary celebrations of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, and has the commemorative text "Centenary of the Birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah".

Due to periods of "sustained high inflation" and "perennial depreciation of the currency", the Bank of Ghana on 29 November 2019, announced the issuance of a new 2-cedi coin and as well as new 100 and 200-cedi banknotes. Existing 1 and 2 cedi banknotes remain legal tender, though these denominations will be gradually replaced by coins to reduce costs.

The third Cedi has been losing value continuously since it was introduced. In 2014, the inflation rose rapidly as the value of the third cedi fell to a fourth of its original value. The devaluation was temporarily halted in the last quarter of 2014 as the currency stabilized due to a pending IMF bailout of Ghana.

Due to its negligible purchasing power, the one pesewa coin is rarely seen in circulation. In September 2021, the Bank of Ghana began the process of withdrawing GH₵1 and GH₵2 notes from circulation to encourage the use of coins of their corresponding face values.

In August 2022, accelerating inflation and continued economic mismanagement has caused the cedi's value to drop to 10 U.S. cents (GH₵10 = US$1). As of September 2022^[update], the annual inflation rate of 37.2% as reported by the Ghana Statistical Service was the highest since 2001.

By October 2022, the cedi became the world's worst performing currency, having lost 60% of its value relative to the U.S. dollar since the end of 2021. The exchange rate as of 24 October  2022 (2022 -10-24)^[update] was about GH₵15 per U.S. dollar.

Coins

The Bank of Ghana has been issuing all Ghanaian coins since 1958. Beside the coins in general circulation the bank has also issued commemorative coins. These special coins have been issued in shillings (1958), crowns (1965), pounds (1958–1977), sikas (1997–2003) and cedis (2013–). It is unclear if the Bank of Ghana considered commemorative crowns and sikas together with the commemorative pounds that were coined after 1965 as legal tender or simply as medallions.

Only coins that have been or are in general circulation are included in this list. The years of issue does not indicate that the series have been coined every year in the period but that the coin has been issued more than once in the stated period. Some coins are held back and released years after they are issued. This means that in the general circulation there are worn out coins and coins in mint condition from the same issuing year. The Bank of Ghana has never stated if they are simply holding back already stamped coins until they are needed or if they are stamping coins successively with old issue years.

First cedi (1965–67)

First cedi (Legal tender: 1965–67)
Image	Value	Description						Date of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Edge
	5 pesewas	Kwame Nkrumah (Lettering:) CIVITATIS GHANIENSIS CONDITOR (the Founder of Ghana) KWAME NKRUMAH	Five-pointed star (Lettering:) The value of the coin & 1965	Copper-nickel	4.1 g	22 mm	Smooth	19 July 1965
	10 pesewas				3.2 g	20 mm	Milled
	25 pesewas				8.65 g	27.4 mm
	50 pesewas				13.9 g	32 mm	Reeded

Second cedi

Second cedi (Legal tender: 1967–2007)
Image	Value	Description						Years of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Edge
	1⁄2 pesewa	Adowa drums (Lettering:) GHANA FREEDOM AND JUSTICE	Five-pointed star (Lettering:) The value of the coin & The year of issue	Bronze	2.9 g	20.2 mm	Smooth	1967
	1 pesewa				5.72 g	25.47 mm		1967–1979
	2+1⁄2 pesewas	Cacao fruits (Lettering:) GHANA FREEDOM AND JUSTICE	The shield from the coat of arms of Ghana (Lettering:) The value of the coin & The year of issue	Copper-nickel	3.2 g	19.5 mm		1967
	5 pesewas				2.85 g	19 mm	Reeded	1967–1975
	10 pesewas				5.6 g	23.5 mm		1967–1979
	20 pesewas				11.2 g	28 mm
	50 pesewas				12.5 g	32 mm	Milled	1979
	1 cedi	Cowry shell (Lettering:) GHANA FREEDOM AND JUSTICE		Brass	11.9 g	30 mm	Smooth

Third cedi

The new coins are 1 pesewa (100 old cedi), 5 pesewas (500), 10 pesewas (1,000), 20 pesewas (2,000), 50 pesewas (5,000), 1 cedi (10,000) and 2 cedis (20,000).

Banknotes

The Bank of Ghana has been issuing all Ghanaian banknotes since 1958. Most of the Ghanaian banknotes have been changed slightly from one year's issue to the next year's issue in the ongoing technological fight against counterfeit money. The signature on the notes also changes when a new governor takes over the management of the Bank of Ghana. Such changes are frequent and are not covered in this list. The years of issue do not indicate that the series has been printed every year in the period, but that the banknote has been issued more than once in the given period.

First cedi (1965–67)

First cedi (Legal tender: 1965–67)
Image	Value	Description		Date of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse
	1 cedi	Kwame Nkrumah	Bank of Ghana	19 July 1965
	5 cedis		Supreme Court
	10 cedis		Black Star Gate
	50 cedis		Seashore, Palms
	100 cedis		Kumasi Central Hospital
	1,000 cedis (Only used in Interbanking Transactions)	Black Star	Bank of Ghana

Second cedi (1967–2007)

1967 to 1979

Second cedi – 1st series (Legal tender: 1967–79)
Image	Value	Description		Years of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse
	1 cedi	Cocoa	Shield and sword	1967–1971
	5 cedis	Fauna carvings	Fauna carvings	1967–1969
	10 cedis	Art projects	Statuettes	1967–1970

Second cedi – 2nd series (Legal tender: 1972–79)
Image	Value	Description		Years of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse
	1 cedi	Young girl	Cocoa farmer	1973–1978
	2 cedis	Farmer	Fishermen	1972–78
	5 cedis	Woman	Larabanga Mosque	1973–1978
	10 cedis	Pipe smoker	Akosombo Dam

1979 to 2007

Second cedi – 3rd series (Legal tender: 1979–2007)
Image	Value	Description		Years of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse
	1 cedi	Young man	Basket weaver	1979–1982
	2 cedis	Schoolgirl	Field workers
	5 cedis	Old man	Lumberers
	10 cedis	Young woman	Fishermen
	20 cedis	Miner	Kente weaver
	50 cedis (Demonetized in 1982)	Old man	Cocoa farmers	1979–1980

Second cedi – 4th series (Legal tender: 1983–2007)
Image	Value	Description		Years of issue
Obverse & Reverse		Obverse	Reverse	Start	End
	10 cedis	W. O. II Larbi, Fred Otoo, E. Kwasi Nukpor	Rural bank building	1984	1984
	20 cedis	Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa	Miner, army officer, student, demonstrators		1986
	50 cedis	Young man	Workers drying grain	1983
	100 cedis	Woman	Loading produce		1991
	200 cedis	Old man	Teacher and students		1993
	500 cedis	Black star, fist, and "Gye Nyame"	Cocoa and miner	1986	1994
	1,000 cedis	Diamonds	Cocoa harvest	1991	2003
	2,000 cedis	Adomi Bridge	Fishermen	1994	2006
	5,000 cedis	Coat of arms of Ghana	Cargo ships and logs
	10,000 cedis	The Big Six	Black Star Gate	2002
	20,000 cedis	Ephraim Amu	National Theatre of Ghana

Third cedi (2007–present)

Third cedi
Image	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description						First issued
Obverse & Reverse				Obverse			Reverse
	1 cedi	137 × 65 mm	Red	The Big Six, Black Star Gate			Akosombo Dam			3 July 2007
	2 cedis	140 × 67 mm	Beige	Kwame Nkrumah			Parliament House			14 May 2010
	5 cedis	141 × 68 mm	Blue	The Big Six, Black Star Gate			University of Ghana, The Balme Library			3 July 2007
	5 cedis	147 × 68 mm	Blue	James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey			Kwame Nkrumah vessel in Tweneboa, Enyenra, and Ntomme oil fields			7 March 2017 (commemorative issue) 4 August 2017 (regular issue)
	10 cedis	145 × 71 mm	Yellow-green	The Big Six, Black Star Gate			Bank of Ghana			3 July 2007
	20 cedis	149 × 74 mm	Purple				Supreme Court
	50 cedis	153 × 77 mm	Brown				Christiansborg Castle
	100 cedis	157 x 80 mm	Cyan	The Big Six, Black Star Gate			Interior of the Parliament of Ghana			2 December 2019
	200 cedis	161 x 83 mm	Orange	The Big Six, Black Star Gate			Jubilee House			2 December 2019

Exchange rate history

The price of one US$ in GH₵

See also

• Economy of Ghana
• E-Cedi
• Previous Ghanaian currencies:
  • Money cowry
  • Akan goldweights (golddust)
  • Gold Coast ackey
  • British West African pound
  • Ghanaian pound