John Dramani Mahama is Ghana’s president
President John Dramani Mahama has touted the Ghanaian cedi as the best-performing currency in the world in 2025 after facing challenges in the previous years.
The Bank of Ghana also recently noted that the cedi has appreciated by over 42% against major trading currencies since the beginning of the year.
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Speaking to Japanese investors, Mahama urged them to seize opportunities in Ghana, following the positive outlook of the economy.
“For those of you who know the history of the Ghanaian cedi, it’s been one of the most volatile currencies in Africa, and a few years back, we were said to be the worst-performing currency.
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“I’m happy to announce that this year, the Ghana cedi has been the best-performing currency in the world,” he said at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) on August 19, 2025.
On credit rating, inflation and macroeconomic stability, the president noted that there have been upgrades and improvements, creating a favourable environment for businesses to thrive.
“Inflation rose to a high of almost 23% in 2024, and it’s currently down to 13.7% and we expect that by the end of the year to hit single digits. And as Simon said, we’ve been upgraded from junk status to B minus with a stable outlook, and I’m certain that in the next review, we’re going to be upgraded again,” he added.
John Mahama also noted that as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Ghana has a good business ecosystem and secured duty-free export agreements that allow the movement of goods across the continent.
He added that Japanese investors could access a potential continental market of 1.4 billion people.
“So far, almost 50 African countries have signed agreements that allow us to export duty-free, tariff-free into each other’s markets. And once you register your product and it meets all the standards, you can export duty-free and tariff-free into each other’s markets,” he explained.
The president also noted that Ghana has reviewed reforms that limit foreign investments, including changes to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act.
“Some barriers were put to foreign investment. You had to prove that you had brought in a certain amount of money to be classified as a foreign investor. In the reviewed Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, we are removing those minimal capital investments.
“This will enable any investor, however little money you have, $100,000 or $50,000, to be able to come in and set up a business in Ghana,” he announced.
SSD/AE
