Public urges more education on new cedi

Sunyani (B/A), May 30, GNA- Storekeepers, traders and the public interviewed by the Ghana News Agency in the Brong Ahafo Region have conflicting opinions and views about the joint circulation of the old and the new currency to be introduced by Bank of Ghana in July. Whilst some of them felt the education on the exercise must be extended to the doorsteps of the people, others said the joint circulation would create confusion resulting in people losing their monies.

Madam Afiah Asantuah, a trader in Sunyani said the joint circulation could bring confusion between traders and customers as some might find it difficult to accept a change especially when the two currencies are mixed up.

She therefore appealed to the Central Bank to completely withdraw the old currency from the system before introducing the new money whilst those who might still hold the old currency would be allowed to change their monies through the banks. Mr. Joseph Kwaku Yeboah, Managing Director of Royal Ventures Mobile shop, also in Sunyani called for an intensive door-to-door education to help broaden the knowledge of both customers and traders on the exercise.

A tour of some shops in Sunyani by the GNA revealed that some traders had complied with the Bank of Ghana directive to price commodities in both the old and new currency. Others have however remained adamant and do not seem to be aware of the directive.

All items on the shelves of Farmers' supermarket have been priced in both currencies, in blue and red ink respectively. Nana Gyau Gyan III, proprietor, said he had taken the initiative to educate customers because he had realized that some customers were ignorant about the re-denomination exercise. The proprietor has also pasted the re-denomination conversion chart at the entrance of the shop for the benefit of customers. Nana Gyau, Atipimhene of Berekum Traditional Area expressed his satisfaction with the introduction of the new cedi, saying "it will bring respect to the nation's currency". He noted that the public no longer regarded the smaller denominations of the currency "but with this re-denomination, people will begin to value every pesewa".

In another development, a food vendor at Nkoranza in Brong-Ahafo has suggested to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify and extend their education on the re-denomination, specifically targeting hawkers, food vendors and storekeepers. Forty two year old Comfort Ayiwa, who sells rice and beans, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nkoranza that although she had heard about the re-denomination exercise, she still lacked adequate knowledge about how she would transact business.

She asked officials of the NCCE to regularly contact food vendors to explain the exercise so that they would acquire adequate knowledge to avoid confrontations with customers.

Other vendors like iced water and other food sellers at Nkoranza also complained of a seeming problem they might encounter with the introduction of the new currency and called for an intensive public education drive in the communities.