Beposo (W/R), April 11, GNA- Mr. John Nkrumah, Senior Field Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), on Wednesday said the country's currency is a national symbol and must not be respected and kept neat.

He was speaking at a public forum on the re-denomination of the cedi organized by the Shama-Ahanta East Office of the NCCE at Beposo near Takoradi.

Mr. Nkrumah said the currency is important and must be handled with care to preserve its value.

He said defacing and destruction of the currency is an offence punishable by law.

Mr. Nkrumah said defacing includes writing on the notes while destruction includes tearing or biting the edges of notes. He said the people must promote the prestige and good name of Ghana and respect the symbols of the nation as good citizens. Mr. Nkrumah said the people must also protect and preserve public property, expose and combat the misuse and waste of public funds and property.

He said it costs the nation to print and re-print notes especially if they are defaced or destroyed Mr. Nkrumah said, "Every re-print of currency adds more cost to national expenditure and this means additional tax on citizens". Miss Gladys Marian Osman, Assistant Civic Education Officer, said the six-month period of conversion would allow citizens to convert their cedis to Ghana Cedi without difficulties. She said it would not be necessary for people to engage dealers or agents to change their money for them.

Miss Osman said anyone who withdraws money from the bank from 1st July 2007 would get the New Ghana Cedi. She said all accounts at the banks would automatically be converted into new Ghana Cedis from July 2007. Miss Osman said the New Ghana Cedi would become the country's only legal tender after 2007. 11 April 07