Duncan-Williams Calls for Stronger Cedi, Cheaper Food and Export Value Addition

Presiding Archbishop of Action Chapel International, Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has urged government and economic managers to intensify efforts to stabilise the cedi, reduce food and transport costs and reposition Ghana’s economy through value addition, saying the hardship facing citizens remains severe despite recent gains.
Speaking on the state of the economy in an interview on Accra based TV3, the Archbishop said wisdom is required to make the right decisions at the right time.
“And respect it. That’s what wisdom is. To know what to do at every given time to keep the economy going and to stabilize the cedi or our currency.”
He said prayers must also focus on food prices and the cost of transporting food from rural farming communities.
“We need to also pray concerning the issue of the price of food. You know the price of food and then transportation. You know bringing the foods from the villages and everything. So the area of transportation and the price of food is also very very critical.”
Archbishop Duncan-Williams acknowledged the efforts of the current government but said the progress achieved so far is not enough.
“Which I think this present government has managed it well and has done well. But it’s not enough. We can do better. And I think the enemy of better is good. So I must say to them that you have done good, you’ve done well but you can do better. So don’t relax.”
He stressed that the suffering of ordinary people is still widespread.
“You know because the sufferings of the masses is still there.”
The Archbishop also linked food security to favourable weather and called for prayers for timely rainfall.
“And we have to pray that the rains fall at the right time. You know we need the rains to come at the right time. So that the farmers when they are planting and everything can get a harvest.”
He said affordable food and transport would help stabilise the economy.
“And if we have enough food and the price is cheap, transportation and everything is affordable then it helps the economy.”
He further warned about Ghana’s dependence on the US dollar and the impact of global economic decisions.
“And then we have to also pray that nothing happens to interfere with the dollar. Because we depend on the dollar a lot. And the world is now a global village and anyone decision that goes wrong in America or somewhere that affects the dollar can also affect our cidi.”
The Archbishop said Ghanaians must continually pray for those managing the economy.
“So we have a lot of things to pray about and also especially for those who manage the economy. We must never wake up in the morning, go out or sleep without praying for them because they are dealing with a very very serious situation here when it comes to our economy as Africans.”
He criticised the global trade system, particularly in cocoa and gold, saying Africa is disadvantaged.
“If you look at our situation I’m told that the price of chocolate on the international market is like we produce Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana produces cocoa. And then we send it to the west and then they put value on it, sell it back to us and they make ninety-six percent profit and we make only four percent.”
He added that similar challenges exist in the gold sector.
“And it’s that way and it’s not just the cocoa even the gold. Things have been done in a few gold. Things have been done in a way to disadvantage us.”
He called for leaders who understand global systems and can protect Ghana’s interests.
“You know and we need uh to pray for our president and our leaders who understand what’s going on. To give us the advantage on the international scene and market to overturn and to override some things so that things will become favorable for us for our economy to thrive and flourish and do better.”
He concluded by reaffirming his love for Ghana and his hope for the country’s future.