The usually busy Makola market erupted into cheerful excitement on Friday when the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiamah, his deputy, Dr. Zakaria Mumuni, and some other executives of the Central Bank stepped onto the bustling trading grounds to pay traders a visit.
The unusual visit was with one mission, which was to talk directly to market women about how to keep the Ghana cedi clean, safe, and alive for longer.
This visit forms part of the events outlined to mark the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Ghana cedi.
From their high-air-conditioned offices at Bank Square, the governors and the executives stepped into the scorching sun on Friday, moving from shop to shop, interacting with both traders and shoppers.
What was meant to be a simple education exercise quickly turned into a heartwarming street mammoth. Traders paused their sales, waved their handkerchiefs, and burst into wide smiles as the Governor and his entourage moved from stall to stall.
The air carried laughter, playful interaction, and genuine curiosity as the women demonstrated how they usually handled the notes, while the Governor gently showed better ways to treat the currency they work so hard to earn.
From reminding them not to fold or squeeze cedi notes into tight knots, to urging them to avoid putting money under their armpits or in corners soaked in spices and tomatoes, the Governor delivered each message with a friendly tone that made the crowd light up.
Many of the traders affectionately called out to him, joking, comparing notes, and showing their everyday struggles with handling cash in a fast-paced market.
The atmosphere was lively, warm, and memorable, like a community gathering rather than a formal outreach.
At one point, the traders erupted in laughter after one woman proudly demonstrated her “new handling technique,” declaring she had graduated from “crumpling the cedi” to “honouring it.”
The Bank of Ghana’s Cedi@60 celebration clearly took on a more human face in the market, one filled with joy, smiles, and hands-on learning.
And judging by the reactions, the traders welcomed it wholeheartedly. In the end, they all came to the conclusion that if the cedi will live long, they too must treat it well.
