Ghana has unveiled a redesigned series of banknotes known as the Ghana Cedi Heritage Series, featuring prominent historical figures, national landmarks and cultural symbols as part of efforts to modernise the country’s currency and strengthen protection against counterfeiting.
The new banknotes were officially launched on Thursday, by President John Dramani Mahama at the Bank of Ghana headquarters in Accra.
The initiative, themed “The Cedi, Our Future: Secure, Designed to Last,” seeks to celebrate Ghana’s history and cultural identity while improving the durability, security and convenience of the national currency.
According to the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, the redesigned notes incorporate enhanced security features to make counterfeiting more difficult and enable members of the public to identify genuine banknotes more easily.
The new series also features Ghanaian national heroes, historic sites, monuments and traditional Adinkra symbols, with each denomination highlighting an important aspect of the country’s history and development.
Among the personalities featured are Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah; former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; Ghana’s first female judge, Annie Ruth Jiagge; and Theodosia Okoh, designer of the country’s national flag.
Other notable figures include educationist James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, composer Ephraim Amu, Cardinal Peter Dery and pioneering market leader Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome.
The redesigned banknotes retain the eight existing denominations: GH¢1, GH¢2, GH¢5, GH¢10, GH¢20, GH¢50, GH¢100 and GH¢200.
The Bank of Ghana said the notes would be printed on reinforced cotton paper, making them more durable and better suited to the country’s climatic conditions and frequent handling. They have also been redesigned in smaller sizes to make them easier to carry and fit into wallets.
The new banknotes are expected to enter circulation on December 1, 2026, and will initially circulate alongside the existing notes, which will remain legal tender.
President Mahama urged Ghanaians to take pride in the redesigned currency and protect it as a symbol of national identity, unity and economic sovereignty.
As part of the introduction, the central bank also unveiled a digital application, known as the Cedi App, to educate the public about the new banknotes and help people, particularly those with visual impairments, identify their features.
The Bank further announced plans for a nationwide public education campaign in major local languages to familiarise citizens with the redesigned currency and its security features.
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