Member of Parliament for Lambussie-Karni Constituency Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s introduction of higher Cedi denominations is a waste of the public purse.
According to him, the move is a means to perpetuate corruption.
Speaking on TV3's News @10 on Friday, November 29, the Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament said the move completely defeats the aim by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to have a single currency.
The Bank of Ghana on Friday introduced two higher denominations of GHS100 and GHC200.
GHC2 coins were also unveiled.
The Governor of the Bank, Dr Ernest Addison, told journalists that the introduction of the higher notes and the coins should not be misinterpreted to mean a shift away from the policy of pursuing a cashless society and pursuing electronic modes of payment.
He said the move was as a result of a market survey conducted from March 2017.
But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP said the Governor and, by extension, government strongly denied reports of a similar introduction about a year ago.
“Go back to what they said at that time,” he told host Paa Kwesi Asare.
For him, the whole move smacks of corruption.
“They can print dollars but what is written is written,” he said, insinuating a defeat for the government in next year’s polls.