The Bank of Ghana (BoG) will begin introducing its upgraded Ghana Cedi Heritage Series into circulation on December 1, 2026, with the existing banknotes remaining legal tender.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, announced this at the launch of the new banknote series at Bank Square in Accra on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
He said the upgraded banknotes feature enhanced security measures, improved durability and more portable sizes to strengthen currency protection and make everyday transactions more convenient.
According to him, the Heritage Series is designed to reinforce public confidence in the national currency while celebrating Ghana’s history and cultural identity.
“The Heritage Series will be introduced into circulation from December 1, 2026, and will circulate alongside the existing series, which remains legal tender,” Dr Asiama said.
He explained that the gradual introduction would allow individuals and businesses to adjust to the new notes without disrupting economic activities.
The upgraded series features images of national heroes, historic sites, monuments and Adinkra symbols, incorporating elements of Ghana’s heritage into everyday monetary transactions.
Dr Asiama said the improved security features would make counterfeiting more difficult and help the public identify genuine banknotes, while the enhanced durability was expected to extend the lifespan of the notes despite frequent handling and climatic conditions.
Beyond the redesigned banknotes, the Governor disclosed that the Bank was working with stakeholders to introduce a new Currency Act to replace the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242).
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen penalties for counterfeiting and establish clearer procedures for detecting, surrendering, authenticating and destroying counterfeit banknotes.
It will also provide stronger legal backing for efforts to prevent the mutilation, defacement and abuse of banknotes and coins.
Dr Asiama further announced that the Bank had developed an Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software (ECOMS) entirely in-house to improve coordination between the central bank and commercial banks in managing currency operations.
The Bank also intends to establish additional Cash Centres at its Ho and Tamale Regional Offices to improve access to currency services.
As part of efforts to educate the public on the new banknotes, Dr Asiama announced the launch of a Cedi App to help users understand the features of the Heritage Series.
The application is also expected to assist persons with visual impairments in identifying the banknotes.
The Governor said the Bank would embark on a nationwide public education campaign in major local languages to familiarise Ghanaians with the new currency and promote responsible handling of banknotes.
He emphasised that despite the growing use of digital payment systems, physical cash remained an important part of Ghana’s monetary resilience, particularly during technical failures, cyber incidents and other disruptions to electronic payment services.
He said the Bank would continue to modernise the country’s payment systems while ensuring that physical cash remained accessible and reliable.
