Ghana’s Cedi Named Best-Performing Currency in Africa for First Eight Months of 2025

The World Bank’s October 2025 Africa Pulse report reveals that the Ghanaian cedi led Africa’s currencies with a year-to-date gain of approximately 20% by the end of August, making it the best-performing currency on the continent during that period. This turnaround comes after a period of severe depreciation, when the cedi lost nearly 19% of its value year-on-year in 2024.

The second top performer on the list was the Zambian kwacha, which appreciated by about 16% during the same time frame. According to the World Bank, Ghana’s strong showing was driven by tighter fiscal and monetary policies, rising export revenue, and improved market confidence.

Ghana’s resurgence in currency performance is particularly striking given the challenges of prior years. From late 2022 through 2024, the cedi came under intense pressure due to high debt, inflationary swings, and declining foreign reserves. The gains in 2025 suggest that recent policy reforms, especially strengthened reserve buffers, fiscal discipline, and renewed investor confidence, are beginning to pay off.

However, analysts caution that the road ahead remains fragile. While the cedi posted a sharp rally in the first half of 2025, its appreciation trend slowed between July and September, partly due to increased import demand and global economic pressures.

Ghana’s broader macroeconomic context supports this currency rebound. Inflation dropped significantly to around 11.5% in August 2025, and the external position improved following structural adjustments and reforms under the government’s stabilization program.

This milestone is more than symbolic. A stronger local currency helps ease the burden on importers, reduce inflationary pressure, and restore confidence among consumers and businesses. For Ghana, it also signals the potential rewards of sustained macroeconomic discipline amid global uncertainty.

Yet, maintaining this leading position will require consistency and caution. Global commodity price fluctuations, capital outflows, or lapses in fiscal prudence could easily undermine the current progress. The World Bank has warned that Ghana must continue to eliminate structural inefficiencies and maintain financial discipline to sustain this positive momentum.

Bank of Ghana engages GUTA on monetary policy, business concerns