The Bank of Ghana has reaffirmed that its central bank digital currency project, the eCedi, is still active, with officials saying the initiative is now focused on further testing and exploring cross-border payment use cases.

Speaking after the latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Accra, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, clarified that the project has not been shelved.

“We have not abandoned the eCedi project,” he said, addressing concerns about the status of the digital currency programme.

The eCedi, Ghana’s planned central bank digital currency, is being developed as part of broader efforts to modernise the country’s payment systems and improve financial inclusion. It is also expected to complement existing mobile money and banking services.

According to the Governor, the central bank is currently focusing on how the eCedi can be used to make cross-border transactions faster and more efficient, especially for businesses trading within the West African sub-region.

“We are concerned about how we can deploy that for cross-border settlement to improve trade for businesses,” he explained.

He added that although progress has been made on the project, more pilot programmes are needed before any full-scale rollout. These pilots will help the Bank of Ghana understand how the system performs in real-world conditions and how users interact with it.

“We need more pilots for the eCedi to better understand its practical application and impact on the economy,” he said.

The Governor also noted that Ghana is studying developments in other countries that are also testing central bank digital currencies, while working with both local financial institutions and international partners to refine its approach.

Overall, the Bank of Ghana says the eCedi remains an important part of its long-term digital strategy, aimed at improving payments, supporting trade, and strengthening the financial system.