Cedi posts 37% year-to-date appreciation against dollar

• Posted on October 21, 2025October 21, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The cedi’s sustained “good run” against the dollar over the past two weeks of October 2025 has helped erase the local currency’s losses posted in the third quarter of the year.

Data from Bloomberg News and the World Bank show that the cedi depreciated by about 14% in the third quarter of 2025.

This decline had slowed the cedi’s earlier record appreciation from more than 40% at the end of July 2025 to about 21% by the end of September.

However, new data from commercial banks now show that the cedi’s year-to-date (YTD) appreciation stands at 37%.

This means that from the beginning of October alone, the local currency could have appreciated by about 16% against the U.S. dollar, effectively “clawing back” the losses recorded between July and September 2025.

A closer analysis of price quotes from commercial banks since the start of the year also revealed that within a single week — from October 13 to 17 — the cedi appreciated by 9.5% against the dollar.

This could be one of the highest weekly appreciations recorded by the Ghana cedi in recent history.

Some commercial banks have attributed the cedi’s recent rally to new forex and monetary policy measures that have improved dollar supply and strengthened enforcement of foreign exchange regulations.

A key factor has been the Bank of Ghana’s decision to revise its forex market interventions — moving from weekly auctions to spot sales for commercial banks. According to the Ghana Association of Banks, this policy shift has enhanced market efficiency.

Its Chief Executive, John Awuah, told Joy Business that the cedi’s rebound reflects “recent market developments,” also linking the performance to the Bank of Ghana’s review of the Net Open Position (NOP) for commercial banks.

Market analysts further believe that the cedi’s strength is being supported by tight fiscal and monetary policies, rising export revenues, and improved investor confidence.

They also argue that, given recent market reforms, the cedi’s strong performance may not end anytime soon.

Market Quotes

Checks by Joy Business indicate that some commercial banks are selling the U.S. dollar at GH¢10.95 for retail transactions.

On the interbank market, trading among banks saw the cedi quoted between GH¢10.70 and GH¢10.85.

The appreciation has also been reflected in the forex bureau market, where, as of October 12, 2025, rates ranged between GH¢12.00 and GH¢12.40 to the dollar.

Background

Earlier this month, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, announced that the central bank would begin foreign exchange (FX) intermediation under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme from October 2025, with plans to sell up to $1.15 billion during the month.

These sales are being conducted on a spot basis through twice-weekly, price-competitive auctions open to all licensed banks.

Dr. Asiama explained that the initiative aims to deepen the interbank FX market, enhance price discovery, and reduce volatility — all while maintaining transparent and market-neutral operations.

He emphasised that the overarching goal remains to stabilise the exchange rate, ensure a level playing field, and support sustainable liquidity in the banking system.

-Myjoyonline