Heritage Series Incorporates Enhanced Security Features – BoG Governor

The Bank of Ghana has built upgraded anti-counterfeiting features into the new Heritage Series banknotes to make them harder to fake and easier for the public to verify, Governor Dr Johnson Asiama said at Thursday's launch in Accra. The notes enter circulation on December 1, 2026, and will circulate alongside existing banknotes, which remain legal tender.

Speaking at Bank Square, Dr Asiama said the security enhancements reflected the central bank's commitment to protecting the cedi's integrity and maintaining public confidence in cash transactions.

"The Heritage Series incorporates enhanced security features, and this is to strengthen protection against counterfeiting and to help the public identify genuine banknotes more easily," he stated .

The Governor explained that the upgrades were part of broader efforts to ensure the currency remained secure and reliable, particularly as physical cash continued to play a central role in everyday economic activity. He said the current core banknote designs had been in circulation for more than two decades, making periodic upgrades necessary to meet modern security standards .

Durability and Portability

Beyond security, Dr Asiama highlighted improvements in the notes' physical characteristics. The new banknotes have been designed to withstand Ghana's climatic conditions and frequent handling, extending their lifespan in circulation and supporting more efficient currency management .

"Its improved durability is intended to help notes withstand Ghana's climatic conditions and frequent handling, thereby extending their lifespan in circulation," he said.

The notes are also smaller and more portable than the existing series. Dominic Owusu, Director of Currency Management at the central bank, has noted that the current GH¢200 note is among the largest in the world, making it difficult for users to fit into wallets. Dr Asiama said the smaller sizes "make the notes easier to handle and carry, reflecting the evolving functionality of modern banknotes and the needs of everyday transactions" .

"These changes demonstrate that physical currency must continue to adapt to how people live, how people work, and of course, how our people conduct business," he added.

A Series Rooted in Heritage

The Heritage Series covers all eight denominations—GH¢1, GH¢2, GH¢5, GH¢10, GH¢20, GH¢50, GH¢100 and GH¢200—without introducing new values or altering the cedi's purchasing power. It is an upgrade, not a redenomination .

The designs feature national heroes, historic sites, monuments and, for the first time, Adinkra symbols. The uniform "Big Six" portrait that had appeared on every note since the 2007 redenomination has been replaced with distinct imagery for each denomination .

President John Dramani Mahama, who officially launched the series, said the designs would bring history into everyday life. "These notes will also help bring our history closer to our children. The national figures, the historic places, and the cultural symbols featured on the Heritage Series can prompt questions, encourage learning, and deepen understanding of the country that our children are growing in," he said .

Transition and Public Education

The Bank of Ghana has stressed that existing banknotes remain legal tender and will circulate alongside the new series, with banks gradually withdrawing old notes over time. The public has been advised not to rush to exchange or withdraw currency solely because of the new series .

To support the transition, the central bank has launched a Cedi App designed to help users learn the new notes' features, including assistance for people with visual impairments. A nationwide public education campaign in major local languages is also planned .

The Bank has urged responsible handling of banknotes, cautioning against practices such as crumpling, writing on, stapling, spraying and using money for decorative purposes including money bouquets. It said proper handling would preserve note quality, reduce replacement costs and support efficient currency management .

Background: Two Decades in the Making

Ghana's current banknote series dates to the 2007 redenomination, when four zeros were removed from the cedi. A GH¢2 note was added in 2010 bearing Dr Kwame Nkrumah's portrait, and at the time Bank of Ghana officials acknowledged criticism of the uniform "Big Six" design and said varying portraits would "permit the nation to recognize departed national heroes who positively impacted on the lives of Ghanaians" .

The Heritage Series delivers on that ambition. The launch comes as the Bank of Ghana approaches its 70th anniversary on March 4, 2027. The central bank has said periodic upgrades are necessary to keep banknotes secure, durable and responsive to the economy's changing needs .

The introduction of the Heritage Series is expected to reinforce confidence in the cedi, improve the durability of banknotes in circulation and strengthen measures to protect the currency against counterfeiting .