Fun Fact Friday: Do you know the origin of the Cedi?
The Ghana Cedi is the fourth historical and only current legal tender in the Republic of Ghana. One Cedi is divided into one hundred Pesewas (Gp). However, did you know Ghana’s currency, the Cedi, is named after a cowrie shell?
After independence in 1957, Ghana separated itself from the British West African Pound, which was the currency of the British colonies in the region. The new republic’s first independent currency was the Ghanaian Pound(1958–1965). In 1965, Ghana decided to leave the British colonial currency and adopt the widely accepted decimal system.
The word Cedi comes from the Akan word “sedie,” which refers to cowry shells — small, shiny shells that were once widely used as money in parts of West Africa.
Long before coins and paper notes, cowries served as a medium of exchange across the region. They were used in trade, savings, dowries, and even in traditional rites. Because they were durable, portable, and widely accepted, they became one of the earliest forms of currency.
When Ghana introduced its national currency on July 19, 1965, replacing the Ghanaian pound, the name “Cedi” was chosen to reflect that rich pre-colonial trading history.
Today, while we use notes and coins instead of shells, the name remains a reminder that Ghana’s economic story began long before modern banking systems.
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