Ghanaian Nurse in the UK Cries as Cedi Appreciates Against British Pound

• The Ghanaian cedi has seen a rapid appreciation against major currencies since the start of 2025
• A Ghanaian nurse in the UK, Philipa, went viral after lamenting on TikTok about how the cedi’s strength is affecting her remittances
• Bloomberg ranked the cedi as the best-performing currency in the world, sparking calls for price reductions in Ghana

The Ghanaian cedi has been on a rapid rise since the beginning of the year, appreciating significantly against major trading currencies.

While the rise of the cedi has come as welcome news to local businesses, Ghanaians abroad seem worried about the currency’s stability.

A Ghanaian nurse in the UK, identified as Philipa, has taken to social media to lament the cedi’s rise against the British pound.

In a video, Philipa, the Nurse, as she is known on TikTok, was seen sharing her frustration over the fall of the British pound.

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The UK-based nurse disclosed that she has been crying in her room ever since the cedi started outperforming major trading currencies.

She said that, because of the fall of the UK currency, she now has to send double the amount of money she usually sends to her relatives in Ghana.

"I have been crying the whole time. You would think that someone has beaten me, but it's the cedi that's weeping me. Comparing cedis to pounds is heartbreaking. Previously, I only sent some small pounds, but now I have to add more. In fact, Mahama has really worried those of us in the UK. Nowadays, when people in Ghana ask me for money, I'm unable to give them," Philipa said.

Cedi ranked as the world’s best-performing currency

Bloomberg, a respected global business news publisher ranked the Ghanaian cedi as the best-performing currency in the world for the month of April.

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Kuami Eugene begs Mahama to slow down: "My dollar all go waste"

As of May 25, the cedi was trading at GH¢10.95 to the US dollar, GH¢14.78 to the British pound, and GH¢12.40 to the euro.

As a result of the continued fall of foreign currencies, Ghanaian consumers have been demanding a reduction in commodity prices across the country.

Cedi appreciation not artificial

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, has shot down allegations that the Central Bank is manipulating the exchange rate.

Speaking at the Ghana CEO Summit in Accra on Monday, 26 May 2025, the BoG Governor denied any artificial intervention by the Bank of Ghana in the wake of the cedi's recent appreciation against the dollar.

Rather, Dr Asiama explained that the strong performance of the cedi was due to broader economic improvements and not based on external factors.

He also indicated that factors such as disciplined monetary policy, foreign exchange reforms, and increased inflows all played a role in the stability of the cedi.

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Cedi Appreciation: International Relations expert says Cedi's value will drop in December, explains in video

Mahama credits cedi strength to leadership

On his part, President John Dramani Mahama said the strong performance of the cedi was due to the reduction of the country's total debt burden.

Addressing a high-level presidential session during the 60th Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan on May 27, Mahama indicated that nearly GH₵150 billion had been reduced from Ghana’s total debt, an act which is restoring fiscal health.

He added that the strength of the cedi’s performance was crucial to reversing the rising cost of the country’s public debt.

Watch the video below:

Philipa’s complaints over Cedi’s rise spark reactions

Ghanaians on social media who came across Philipa’s video thronged the comment section to share their views on her complaints about the cedi’s rise against the British pound.

YEN.com.gh compiled a few of the reactions below:

@Tales with Don said:

"How many are u as compared to the good people of Ghana."

Read also

Man who accurately predicted Cedi's rise forecasts GH¢3 to $1 by end of July

@Margaret Pierre also said:

"Let’s start businesses in Ghana so we don’t have to send"

@Abdul Bari commented:

Aswear this is not funny anymore!!!! Mahama has to think about us too???? Now we can’t help anymore."

@Josephpoku17 also commented:

"It's a good thing happening, I am also in Canada 🇨🇦, but I am happy for the appreciation of the Cedi."

NDA prays for US dollar to rise

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a US-based influencer, Naana Donkor Arthur, popularly known as NDA, lamented the Ghana cedi’s recent strength against the dollar.

In a video, she said the stronger cedi was making it harder for her to support her family back home in Ghana.

NDA consequently prayed for the US dollar to rise against the Cedi in a viral TikTok video.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh