Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to President John Dramani Mahama, has strongly advocated for equitable pricing across the country, citing the stability of the Ghanaian cedi.
Bawah Mogtari, in a spirited statement, celebrated the currency’s recovery but pressed for a necessary and urgent follow-through: price reductions across goods and services in tandem with the cedi’s strength.
“Something remarkable is happening in Ghana. For the first time in a long while, the Ghanaian cedi is not in the news for its decline but for its dominance.
“According to Bloomberg, the cedi is currently the best-performing currency in the world, appreciating by nearly 16% against the US dollar since April 2025.”
Yet, despite this positive macroeconomic trend, she noted that the real benefits are not trickling down to the ordinary Ghanaian. Prices remain stagnant, even in sectors that had been quick to adjust upwards during periods of currency depreciation.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service figures, inflation dropped to 21.2% in April from 22.4% in March. This downward trend, coupled with the cedi’s appreciation,she argued, suggests an improved economic outlook.
But Bawah Mogtari insisted that such progress must be meaningful beyond numbers, demanding a reflection in daily transactions — in markets, fuel stations, transportation fares, and household budgets.
“When the cedi depreciated in the past, businesses—large and small—wasted no time in raising prices. Now that the cedi is rising, fairness dictates that those prices should fall.”
Imbalance in Pricing Behaviour:
Bawah called attention to what she described as a long-standing imbalance in pricing behaviour: a readiness to respond rapidly to economic shocks when they justify price hikes, but an unusual reluctance when conditions improve.
In this context, she applauded Orca Deco, a leading home and office furniture retailer in Ghana, for taking a principled step by reducing prices by 15% in response to the cedi’s strength.
Orca Deco, in its announcement, cited its commitment to passing on the benefits of currency gains to its loyal customers.
Bawah praised the move as exemplary and commended the company for acting without public pressure or waiting for regulatory mandates.
“If we can increase prices when the cedi weakens, we must be willing to reduce prices when the cedi strengthens. That is what equity demands, and that is what ethical business practice looks like.”
The Presidential Advisor however, warned that this kind of responsibility must not rest on the shoulders of a few. She challenged other stakeholders across the economic spectrum—importers, traders, fuel distributors, transport operators, and service providers—to follow suit.
Many of these actors, she recalled, had been vocal in attributing price increases to the cedi’s depreciation. Now, she says, it is only fair for the same logic to apply in reverse.
Moreover, Bawah called on consumers to play an active role by demanding accountability and transparency from businesses. “Let us not celebrate the cedi’s strength in headlines only to deny its impact on ordinary Ghanaians,” she urged.
People-Centred Policies:
She tied this call for economic equity to the broader philosophy of governance espoused by President Mahama, who has consistently emphasised people-centred policies.
“It is time for a reset – not just of our economy but of our mindset. As President John Dramani Mahama has consistently advocated, Ghana needs a leadership approach rooted in trust, fairness, and people-centred governance”.
For Bawah, the overarching message is that a strengthened currency should not only be a matter of national pride or statistical bragging rights but a real force for improving lives.
She emphasised that Ghana is at a critical juncture where not only the economy but also the national mindset needs a reset—one that champions fairness, equity, and responsible capitalism.
“In this legacy term of service, our vision is clear: economic transformation not only in GDP figures but in market stalls, on supermarket shelves, in daily transportation costs, and services.”
Bawah Mogtari’s message comes at a critical moment when public expectations are shifting. As Ghana’s macroeconomic indicators begin to improve, there is growing scrutiny of whether the positive changes will yield real relief for ordinary citizens.
Her remarks underscore a broader call for economic justice: ensuring that the benefits of recovery are not hoarded by a few but shared across all layers of society.
Overall, Joyce Bawah Mogtari challenged businesses to act ethically and urged consumers to become active participants in demanding fairness.
In doing so, she not only highlighted a pivotal economic moment but also insisted that true progress must be felt in the lives of everyday Ghanaians.
