The West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) has concluded a five-day regional workshop in Accra focused on Currency Management and Forecasting across West Africa.

The workshop brought together senior representatives from the central banks of Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone to deepen institutional capacity in managing currency operations, enhancing forecasting models, and combating counterfeiting.

In an interview with Joy Business, Dominic Owusu, Director of Currency Management at the Bank of Ghana, stressed the importance of preserving the integrity and physical quality of the Ghanaian cedi.

“Currency is not just a tool of transaction—it is a symbol of national pride and economic stability. As custodians of this responsibility, we must work together to adopt forward-looking approaches, ensure operational excellence, and foster a regional environment that is efficient, secure, and future-ready,” he said.
“This workshop provides a rich opportunity to learn from one another, share institutional best practices, and return home with refreshed ideas and stronger regional linkages.”

Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Christian Ahortor, Director of Research and Macroeconomic Management at WAIFEM, highlighted the growing importance of regional cooperation in safeguarding currency systems.

“Efforts to protect currencies from counterfeiters now depend more than ever on cooperation among law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, central banks, the security printing industry, and community partners,” he noted.
“Overcoming jurisdictional, geographic, and institutional barriers is essential to providing comprehensive and coordinated solutions to modern financial crimes.”

The event forms part of WAIFEM’s ongoing mandate to support capacity building among West African central banks and promote economic integration through technical training and shared knowledge.

Participants discussed innovations in currency lifecycle management, tools for inflation forecasting, and mechanisms for cross-border collaboration on currency security.