The Convention People’s Party has urged the Bank of Ghana not to discontinue the printing and circulation of pesewa coins, but instead strengthen measures to ensure their acceptance and use across the country.
According to the party, the increasing refusal by traders, transport operators and sections of the public to accept Five pesewa, 10 pesewa and 20 pesewa coins is undermining the integrity of Ghana’s currency and contributing to arbitrary price increases.
In a statement signed by the CPP’s Acting National First Vice-Chairperson, Joyce Larbie, the party called on the central bank to ensure that commercial banks continue to accept and recirculate pesewa coins without restrictions.
“The solution is not to abandon small denominations, but to enforce their use and ensure banks accept and recirculate them without penalty,” the statement said.
The party warned that any decision to phase out pesewa coins without extensive public education and practical alternatives could worsen existing challenges within the economy.
The CPP also appealed to the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s Department to publicly reaffirm the legal tender status of all cedi and pesewa notes and coins as provided under the Bank of Ghana Act.
In addition, the party called for sanctions against individuals and businesses that consistently reject pesewa coins during commercial transactions. “Where necessary, apply sanctions against the systematic rejection of legal tender,” the statement said.
According to the CPP, failure to enforce the use of all denominations of the cedi risks weakening public confidence in the national currency while distorting prices at the retail level.
The party further urged market associations, traders and transport unions, particularly the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, to encourage their members to accept all denominations of the currency and provide customers with exact change.
It noted that the informal rejection of pesewa coins has become widespread in markets and on commercial transport routes, often leading to the rounding up of prices and transport fares.
The CPP therefore called on transport operators to ensure that passengers receive the correct balance during transactions rather than substituting or withholding small denominations.
The party also appealed to the public to actively use pesewa coins in their daily transactions and insist on receiving the correct change when making purchases.
It encouraged citizens to report persistent cases of coin rejection through the Bank of Ghana’s consumer complaint channels. “Ghana cannot fight inflation while we discard the foundation of our currency,” the statement stressed.
The CPP maintained that restoring respect for every denomination of the cedi is critical to promoting economic discipline, protecting consumers, and preventing unnecessary price increases that disproportionately affect low-income earners.
The party concluded that strengthening the acceptance of pesewa coins, rather than withdrawing them, would help preserve confidence in the national currency and support efforts to maintain price stability across the economy.
