By Kwabena Adu Koranteng
They say the cedi is now the strongest currency in the world. They say it has gained 34% against the mighty U.S. dollar in just five months. They say this is a sign of economic progress — of a country on the rise.
But in the markets of Madina, the streets of Tamale, the shops in Kumasi, and the corners of Cape Coast, something doesn’t add up.
Because, while the cedi is getting stronger on paper, ordinary Ghanaians are getting weaker in reality.
We go to the market, and the prices have gone up — again. We ask for three tomatoes, and they tell us last week’s price is no longer valid. A gallon of oil is now luxury. A simple bag of rice feels like a privilege. Transport fares bite. School fees sting. Hospital bills suffocate.
And so we ask: If the cedi is strong, why is life still so hard?
The Pain Behind the Headlines
Economic experts celebrate, but we don’t feel the celebration. We feel the weight — the daily, relentless weight — of surviving in an economy that seems to be winning on the charts, but losing in the lives of its people.
They tell us to be patient. They say it takes time for the strength of the cedi to reflect in market prices. But time is a luxury we don’t have when we’re choosing between feeding our children and buying medicine. When every day is a calculation of sacrifice.
How can the cedi be rising, but our hopes are falling?
The Human Cost of Delayed Change
It’s not just numbers. It’s people. Mothers skipping meals so their children can eat. Fathers taking on two or three jobs and still falling short. Students walking miles to class because transport is too expensive. Grandparents unable to afford basic drugs. Families breaking under the pressure of inflation that doesn’t understand the language of strength.
We are told Ghana is doing well. But if that well-being doesn’t reach the dinner table, the chop bar, the classroom, the clinic — then what is the point?
Something Must Change
We don’t need just policies. We need compassion. We don’t want promises. We want action. We are tired of hearing about growth that doesn’t touch our lives.
Let the markets reflect the real value of the cedi.
Let food prices come down.
Let salaries match the cost of living.
Let the government hold businesses accountable.
Let the people feel what the economy claims to be.
A Hope Worth Holding
We are not asking for riches. We are asking for fairness. For dignity. For a life where progress is not just a headline but a helping hand. Where a strong cedi means a full pot, not an empty promise.
Until then, the cedi may be strong. But Ghana’s heart — its people — is weary.
And it is time we stopped celebrating numbers and started fighting for lives. Enditem
Share Us
