The Bank of Ghana (BoG) will introduce its upgraded Ghana Cedi Heritage Series banknotes into circulation from December 1, 2026, whereas retaining current notes as authorized tender.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, introduced this on Thursday, November 12, through the launch of the Heritage Series at Bank Square in Accra.
The redesigned notes function enhanced safety, improved sturdiness and extra transportable sizes, alongside photos celebrating Ghana’s nationwide heroes, historic websites, monuments and cultural symbols.
Ghana’s new cedi notes function enhanced safety
The upgraded banknotes are designed to strengthen forex safety, enhance sturdiness and make on a regular basis transactions extra handy. According to Dr Asiama, the improved safety features will make the notes tougher to counterfeit and assist the general public establish real banknotes.
The designs additionally replicate Ghana’s historical past and cultural id by means of nationwide heroes, historic landmarks, monuments and Adinkra symbols. Their improved sturdiness is anticipated to assist them stand up to frequent dealing with and the nation’s weather conditions, extending their lifespan in circulation.
The Governor mentioned retaining current banknotes alongside the Heritage Series would guarantee a clean transition with out disrupting financial actions.
- (*1*) he mentioned.
The association means Ghanaians can proceed utilizing current banknotes as each sequence will stay authorized tender.
BoG strengthens forex administration measures
Beyond the redesign, the Bank of Ghana is introducing measures to enhance forex administration, strengthen anti-counterfeiting efforts and broaden entry to money providers.
The Bank is working with stakeholders to introduce a brand new Currency Act to change the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242). The proposed legislation will strengthen penalties for counterfeiting, make clear procedures for dealing with counterfeit notes and supply stronger authorized safety towards the mutilation, defacement and abuse of banknotes and cash.
Other initiatives introduced by the Governor embody:
- Developing an Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software (ECOMS) in-house to enhance coordination with industrial banks.
- Establishing further Cash Centres on the Bank’s Ho and Tamale Regional Offices.
- Launching a Cedi App to educate customers in regards to the Heritage Series and help individuals with visible impairments.
The Bank will even launch a nationwide training marketing campaign in main native languages to assist Ghanaians establish real banknotes and deal with them responsibly.
Dr Asiama pressured that bodily money stays important to Ghana’s financial resilience regardless of the expansion of digital funds, notably throughout technical failures, cyber incidents and different digital fee disruptions. He reaffirmed the Bank’s dedication to modernising fee programs whereas guaranteeing that bodily money stays accessible and dependable
Ghana’s cedi redesign and nigeria’s expertise
Ghana’s resolution to retain current banknotes alongside its upgraded cedi notes attracts parallels with Nigeria’s 2022 naira redesign.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1,000 notes on October 26, 2022, to curb counterfeiting, enhance forex administration and scale back hoarding.
- On December 14, 2024, Nairametrics reported that the CBN had reaffirmed the authorized tender standing of all naira banknotes.
- This adopted the Supreme Court’s November 29, 2023 ruling allowing the indefinite circulation of previous and redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes alongside earlier and commemorative N100 notes.
- On July 8, 2026, the CBN warned against rejecting either the standard or commemorative N100 notes, each of which stay authorized tender.
Ghana’s Heritage Series launch varieties half of efforts to modernise forex administration and strengthen confidence within the cedi forward of the Bank of Ghana’s seventieth anniversary on March 4, 2027.
