Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, on Thursday, November 12, joined President John Mahama to launch the upgraded Ghana Cedi Heritage Series Banknotes, describing it as “an important milestone indeed, in the evolution of Ghana’s national currency.”
The new series brings Ghana’s history and cultural identity to life through distinctive designs featuring national heroes, historic sites and monuments, and — for the first time — Adinkrah symbols.
Combined with enhanced security features, improved durability and smaller, more portable sizes, the Governor said the new notes are designed to reinforce the security of the currency, enhance convenience in everyday transactions and instill a renewed sense of pride among Ghanaians in their national currency.
“This launch is more than the introduction of upgraded banknotes,” Dr Asiama said. “It is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our responsibility to protect the Cedi, to celebrate the heritage that defines us, and of course, to prepare our currency for the demands of a changing world.”
A currency rooted in sovereignty
Tracing the currency’s history, the Governor recalled that following Ghana’s independence in 1957, the establishment of the Bank of Ghana marked a significant step toward economic self-determination.
The introduction of the Cedi as the national currency in July 1965, he said, was another defining milestone in the country’s economic sovereignty.
Since then, the Cedi has remained at the heart of Ghana’s monetary system, facilitating trade, supporting livelihoods, and enabling the daily economic activity of households, businesses and institutions across the country.
“A national currency is more than a means of payment,” Dr Asiama stressed. “It represents a country’s capacity to manage its monetary affairs through its own institutions and provides the foundation on which economic activity takes place. Its credibility depends on sound policies, effective decisions, and the confidence of those who use the currency.”
As the Bank approaches its 70th anniversary on March 4 next year, he said the Heritage Series represents another step in the Bank’s continuing effort to modernise currency management and build public confidence, while keeping the Cedi “a recognisable symbol of Ghana’s sovereignty.”
Security, durability, portability
The Governor explained that the upgraded security features embedded in the new notes are intended to strengthen protection against counterfeiting and help the public identify genuine notes more easily, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to the integrity of the currency.
The improved durability, he added, will help the notes withstand Ghana’s climatic conditions and frequent handling, extending their lifespan in circulation, while the smaller, more portable sizes make the notes easier to handle and carry — reflecting the evolving functionality of modern banknotes.
Beyond the practical improvements, he said, the designs connect Ghana’s past with its present, turning everyday banknotes into reminders of “the people, the places and the values that have shaped our national journey.”
“The Heritage Series demonstrates that modernisation and national identity can advance together,” he said. “We can embrace innovation while remaining rooted in the history and values that define us as a people.”
Cash remains a pillar of resilience
While acknowledging that digital payments are transforming economies — expanding access to financial services and creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers — Dr Asiama insisted that physical cash remains an essential pillar of Ghana’s monetary resilience.
“Experience around the world has shown that payment networks can be disrupted by technical failures, sometimes cyber incidents or natural disasters, and yet again, deliberate attacks in some instances,” he noted. “When such disruptions occur, physical cash provides a dependable means of exchange, helping households and businesses continue to transact without relying entirely on electronic systems.”
The Bank’s commitment, he said, is to advance digital innovation while ensuring cash remains accessible and dependable — objectives he described as complementary.
“A resilient economy must be able to benefit from technological progress while maintaining the capacity to function when that technology fails,” he said.
In-house innovation and the new ‘Cedi App’
In line with this, the Governor announced that the Bank has developed the Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software — known in short as e-Conf — entirely in-house, leveraging its own technical expertise.
“I’m proud to inform you that several of our sister central banks are already coming to learn from this innovation,” he said, adding that the software aims to improve coordination, strengthen operational efficiency and support effective currency management across the country.
He said the Bank’s currency processing centres also use advanced banknote processing systems to sort, authenticate and remove unfit notes from circulation, ensuring that notes in the hands of the public are clean and genuine. Plans are also underway to establish new cash centres at the Bank’s regional offices to bring currency services closer to the people.
Dr Asiama also announced the launch of the “Cedi App,” which will help the public learn the features of the Heritage Series and assist people with visual impairments.
Rollout begins December 1
The Heritage Series will be introduced into circulation from December 1, 2026, and will circulate alongside the existing series.
“Permit me to emphasise that the existing series remain legal tender,” the Governor stressed. “They will circulate alongside the Heritage Series for a while. This approach will allow the public and businesses to adjust smoothly to the Heritage banknotes without unnecessary disruption to economic activity.”
New Currency Act in the works
Protecting the Cedi, Dr Asiama said, also requires a modern legal framework, noting that the currency has for decades been governed by the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242) — a law enacted in an environment that has since changed considerably.
He disclosed that the Bank is working with stakeholders on a new Currency Act that will consolidate and modernise the law governing the currency, including strengthened provisions against counterfeiting “with penalties proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.”
And he issued a blunt warning to would-be counterfeiters: counterfeiting “will soon become a very, very, very painful experience.”
By Gifty Boateng