Ghana is sticking with cotton banknotes as it prepares to introduce the new Heritage Series, with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) explaining that the decision is driven largely by the country’s tropical climate and the need to balance durability with practicality.
Rather than switching to polymer or plastic notes, the central bank says it is strengthening the cotton-based material traditionally used for Ghana’s currency while introducing enhanced security features to make the new notes more durable and secure.
Dominic Owusu, Director and Head of Currency Management at the BoG, said Ghana’s climatic conditions were a major consideration in the decision.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, September 25, he explained that Ghana’s heat, humidity and the tendency for people to come into contact with sweat and moisture make the continued use of cotton-based banknotes appropriate.
“One thing we have to appreciate is that in our environment, we find ourselves in a tropical environment where people sweat, they go into the sun, it’s warm, humidity in the air is quite high in these tropics,” he said.
His explanation comes at a time when polymer banknotes have been adopted by a number of countries, raising questions about why Ghana has not followed the same route.
Mr Owusu, however, pointed out that the climatic conditions in some countries using polymer notes are significantly different from Ghana’s.
“Out there, in some of the areas where they use these plastic notes, it’s in a temperate environment,” he said.
According to the BoG, therefore, the decision to retain cotton is not a refusal to modernise Ghana’s currency, but an attempt to adapt the existing material while improving its performance and security.
Ghana’s approach is also not unique. Mr Owusu noted that cotton-based banknotes remain in use in several jurisdictions, including countries in Africa, Europe and the United States.
“Bank of Ghana, and for that matter, Ghana and most African jurisdictions, what we use is cotton banknotes. The same thing that you find in Europe, the same thing that you find in the United States,” he said.
The central bank’s focus under the Heritage Series is consequently on reinforcing the cotton material to increase the lifespan of the notes and keep them in circulation for longer.
“But what we are doing is that we are reinforcing the durability of the cotton to make sure that it stays longer in circulation,” Mr Owusu explained.
The move is expected to address one of the practical challenges associated with banknotes: the wear and tear that comes with repeated handling and circulation.
However, the BoG says making the notes more durable should not be interpreted as permission for the public to continue treating currency carelessly.
“That is not supposed to mean that people must trample and mishandle the notes,” Mr Owusu cautioned.
“We still want to reinforce that message to Ghanaians, that we must continue to handle the banknotes with care.”
Beyond the material itself, the Heritage Series is also intended to introduce improvements in the security and functionality of Ghana’s currency.
Mr Owusu said the new notes would incorporate enhanced security features while improving their durability and usability.
“However, the new notes coming are more reinforced with security, and they are more durable, and it improves the functionality and usage of these banknotes,” he said.
The initiative therefore goes beyond simply replacing the designs of existing cedi notes.
According to the central bank, the Heritage Series forms part of a broader effort to modernise Ghana’s currency in response to developments in banknote technology, security and circulation.
The BoG says the objective is to preserve confidence in the cedi while ensuring that the currency remains secure, durable and fit for future use.
The decision to retain cotton also comes with a symbolic consideration.
The cedi is not merely a medium of exchange but also represents Ghana’s sovereignty and economic identity. The Heritage Series is consequently being positioned as an effort to modernise the currency without severing its connection with the country’s established monetary identity.
The new banknotes are expected to be officially launched on November 3, 2026, at the Bank Square in Accra.
For now, the message from the central bank is clear: Ghana’s decision to retain cotton does not mean the cedi is being left behind technologically.
Instead, the BoG says it is seeking to make the familiar cotton-based notes stronger, more secure and longer-lasting, while taking into account the realities of the Ghanaian environment.
The Heritage Series will therefore bring changes to the country’s banknotes—but not a departure from the cotton material that has traditionally carried the cedi through Ghana’s economy.