General News of Thursday, 11 July 2002

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Higher currency denominations: The People's Voice

POLL RESULTS

I'm against this policy because it doesn't make sense ! i think it's better for the government to stabilize the value of the currency rather than printing higher denominations. the government should save the country from the resultant cost, and also encourage and regulate the use of checks if it aims at reducing the bulky nature of what people carry in their pockets and in sacks when transacting business.
-- Alex

There is the need for government to drive Ghana towards a less cash economy. Under the standing conditions, the quantity of bills in circulation needs to be reduced to facilite easy transportaation. I see no reson why one should oppose the issue of larger bills for this purpose.
-- Dave

This will even cause inflation as govt will be compelled to pump money into the economy.Let's stabilise the cedi and use the 100b for further dev and not go for HIPC Initiative
--Efo

support the high denomination because of the high level of arm robbery in the system today.The big currency will let people hold more money at a lower risk.This is because we talk of millions in Ghana today.How many 5000 notes will make up of a million?Secondly consider the cost of printing,It will cost the nation soo much to print the currency.Finally, the smaller denominations are of no use today therefore Gov't. has to cut the printing of those and in it's place print the higher denominations.
--Atta Buabeng

The NPP is repeating the same mistake Rawlings made in solving our economic problem. Printing more money does not solve any problem. Kufour this is wrong dont mess up again.
-- Nana Kwame Antwi-Boasiako

Introduction of higher currency denominations in itself may not be a bad thing. However the timing vis a vis the cost involved, compared to our national needs and priorities makes it a wrong decision. I believe we can do with our current denominations for the time being, and channel our resources towards most pressing needs such as health (abolition of the cash and carry system), education (too many students per cubicle whilst paying for accommodation at our university campuses), fight and elimination of criminals (armed robbers who are making the lives of already poor ghanaians more miserable). In fact these are only a few priority areas.
--DANIEL K. ASSENSOH

Ghana does not need any higher denominations of her currency. If the government of Ghana does not know, let it be reminded that the cedi is the least valued currency in Africa and the introduction of higher denominations will only lead to higher prices since less of the smaller denominations will be available. Why don't we think of maintaining the 5000 as the highest and find ways and means of correcting the economic imbalance? How for instance can the Gambia Dalasi be exchanged at 19 to the dollar, the Ethiopian Birr at 9 to the dollar and the Reitrean Nakfa at 13.50 to the dollar while the cedi is at 8000? Remember Ethiopia and Eritrea have been at war for a long time. Congo (the two), Liberia, Sierra Leone and Angola, all of which have been or are at war, have stronger currencies than Ghana so why introduce a higher denomination of a currency that is so weak? Please, Npp, do us a better service than this and spare us a further worsening of our economy.
--Nana Gyan

Higher Currency Denominations will only weakens our morals and confidence in our currency.
-- DR. FRED BINEY

Not when we are aiming to get a common West African currency within the next couple of years
--Steve Akuffo

Government should dicourage carrying of large sums of cash and also cash transaction and not introduce higher denominations to reduce the weight (Kg) of cash handled
--Kwabena