Ghana Launches Heritage Series Banknotes to Combat Counterfeiting

President John Dramani Mahama and the Bank of Ghana officially launched the Heritage Series of upgraded Ghana Cedi banknotes on November 12, 2026, at Bank Square in Accra. The new series, which includes eight denominations from GH₵1 to GH₵200, is designed to modernize the national currency by introducing enhanced security features to combat counterfeiting and increasing durability to reduce replacement costs.

The banknotes will enter public circulation via commercial banks on December 1, 2026. Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama confirmed that existing banknotes will remain legal tender and circulate alongside the new series to prevent economic disruption. The redesigned notes feature smaller sizes and imagery of national heroes and historic sites, including Kwame Nkrumah on the GH₵200 note and Kofi Annan on the GH₵100 note.

To support the transition, the Bank of Ghana is developing a Cedi App for public education and visual impairment assistance. The central bank is also proposing a new Currency Act to replace 1964 legislation and strengthen penalties for counterfeiting. Further reforms include the implementation of Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software and the opening of new Cash Centres in Ho and Tamale as the bank approaches its 70th anniversary in March 2027.