The Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Johnson Asiama, has stated that the US dollar was not a legal tender in Ghana and should not be accepted as a standard means of payment for goods and services. Speaking at the ABSA-UPSA Quarterly Banking Roundtable, Dr. Asiama urged Ghanaians to insist on using the Ghanaian cedi in all commercial transactions, citing it as a civic duty and a means to protect the country’s economic sovereignty.
According to him, businesses and individuals have the right to refuse dollar payments, and any attempts to displace the cedi in commercial transactions are economically distorting and legally impermissible. He cautioned against currency fluctuations and encouraged Ghanaians to view the cedi as a national asset that deserves protection and respect.
The Governor stressed that the exclusive use of the cedi supports macroeconomic policy implementation and strengthens Ghana’s economic sovereignty. He urged the public to play an active role in supporting the cedi’s stability and to reject dollar payments in favor of the local currency.
