Bank of Ghana to Open Cash Centres in Ho and Tamale to Bring Currency Services Closer to the Public

The Bank of Ghana plans to establish new Cash Centres at its Ho and Tamale Regional Offices, Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama announced Thursday at the launch of the Heritage Series banknotes in Accra. The facilities are intended to bring currency services closer to businesses, financial institutions and the public outside Accra, and form part of a broader push to modernise the central bank's currency operations.

"To bring currency services closer to the people, the Bank plans to establish new Cash Centres at its Ho and Tamale Regional Offices," Dr Asiama stated at the Bank Square ceremony .

The planned facilities will complement the Bank's existing Currency Processing Centres, which use advanced banknote processing systems to sort, authenticate and remove unfit notes from circulation. "Our Currency Processing Centres use advanced banknote processing systems to sort, authenticate, and remove unfit notes from circulation, ensuring that the notes in the hands of the public are clean and genuine," the Governor said .

Closing a Geographic Gap

The announcement addresses a long-standing imbalance in Ghana's currency infrastructure. Cash operations have historically been concentrated in Accra, meaning businesses and financial institutions in the Volta and Northern regions have had to rely on distant facilities for services such as banknote exchange, unfit note withdrawal and fit-note distribution. The two new centres are expected to reduce turnaround times and cut the logistical costs of moving cash across the country.

Dr Asiama said the expansion formed part of the Bank's broader strategy to modernise its currency operations and strengthen the infrastructure supporting physical cash management. The measures are intended to ensure that cash remains accessible, dependable and efficiently managed, even as Ghana continues to expand digital payment systems .

ECOMS and Technology Upgrades

The Governor explained that the Bank was also strengthening its technological capacity through the Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software (ECOMS), an in-house system designed to connect the central bank with commercial banks in managing currency operations. ECOMS, developed entirely by the Bank's own technical staff, is intended to improve coordination and operational efficiency nationwide, and has already drawn interest from several sister central banks .

The combination of ECOMS, upgraded currency processing systems and the new cash centres reflects a dual approach: investing in locally developed technology to strengthen internal systems while expanding physical infrastructure to improve service delivery.

Background: A Central Bank Modernising

The Bank of Ghana has in recent years faced logistical challenges in currency distribution. During periods of currency scarcity and the rollout of new denominations, access to cash in regions outside Accra has been uneven. The Ho and Tamale centres are expected to ease pressure on the Accra operations and improve the central bank's ability to respond to currency demand in the northern and volta regions.

The announcement comes as the Bank prepares to put the Heritage Series banknotes into circulation on December 1, 2026. The new notes—featuring national heroes, historic sites, monuments and Adinkra symbols—will circulate alongside existing banknotes, which remain legal tender . The Bank has advised the public not to rush to exchange existing currency, with banks gradually withdrawing old notes as the new ones take over .

The launch also comes as the Bank of Ghana approaches its 70th anniversary on March 4, 2027. Dr Asiama's announcements are being positioned as part of a legacy of modernisation, strengthening public confidence in the cedi and improving the efficiency, accessibility and reliability of cash management across the country .