2006年VOA标准英语-Ghana's Weak Currency Problematic for Business

By Efam Dovi
Accra
04 December 2006

In Ghana, doing business in the local currency has become increasingly risky¹ and time-consuming, amid spiraling inflation. As the cedi has lost value over the years, Ghanaians have been forced to carry more and more bank notes. For VOA, Efam Dovi in Accra reports, that presents a major challenge for businesses and the public in a country where virtually every transaction is done in cash.

There are dozens of customers waiting in line at a local branch of an international bank. Customers withdrawing cash, carry it in bags, because the large amounts of money required will not fit in any wallet.

Chris Ardayfio is a business man who traveled two hours into town, accompanied by a security officer, to deposit the equivalent of $27,000. He is carrying the money in a large nylon sack, the size of a medium suitcase, which he drags along the floor, as he moves forward in line.

Ardayfio says he has been waiting for over an hour. Eventually, he makes it to the cashier and the counting starts.

It is another hour before the transaction is completed, and Ardayfio is clearly frustrated².

"We wasted about two hours also here," he said. "It's because of the amount of money involved."

This customer, Okain, says he uses the ATM machine, but the fees pile up, because it's necessary to make multiple withdrawals³ to get enough cash.

"The minimum I take is the maximum allowed by the bank - that is two million cedis per daily transaction [$228]," he said. "The process they have over here, you have to do it three times to get to the two million, and each transaction, they charge you for it. So, it's like scheming from us, the customers. That is the way I see it."

Last week, Ghana's government announced plans to re-value the cedi by knocking off four zeros.

Okain says he likes the idea, but says the government should focus on moving the economy toward electronic transactions, so it is less reliant on cash.

"Well, it is good, if I don't have to carry large sums of money on my person," he said. "But I would rather prefer they [government] focus on automating⁴ transactions, payments and so on, using credit cards and other debit⁵ cards for payment, making that very pervasive⁶ in the society."

 
Joseph Abbey
Analyst⁷ Joseph Abbey heads the Center for Policy Analysis in Ghana. He says, one of the biggest problems Ghana's economy faces is the cost of doing business. He says there are gains to be made, if the currency is re-valued.

"You can do your business a lot faster, and, if these efficiency gains - because you reduce transaction time - if these efficiency gains can be translated into productivity, then this can itself place on the economy of Ghana great benefits," he said.

According to Abbey, the cedi was a little stronger than the U.S. dollar when it was issued some 40 years ago. Today, one dollar brings 9,500 cedi, one of the worse exchange rates to the dollar, on the African continent.

Abbey attributes the situation to government over-spending and mismanagement over the years.

"If you are a sovereign country, and you have the power to just print the money and use it, then you find that you have just diluted⁸ the currency," he said. "And, that is what has happened."

From July next year, new cedi notes, called Ghana cedi, and coins, called pesewa, will be in circulation. One new Ghana cedi will be equivalent to 10,000 of the current cedis. This will be the third time in the country's history that the currency has been re-valued.

1 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

2 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

4 automating   

（使）自动化( automate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Have you ever thought about automating any part of your business? 你有没有想过把你公司的某个部门自动化？
• We are in process of automating the production department. 我们正在对生产部门实行自动化。

5 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

6 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。