The Bank of Ghana (BoG) will launch a new series of upgraded Ghana cedi banknotes on November 3, 2026, featuring enhanced security features, improved durability and designs that celebrate Ghana’s heritage.
The new notes, known as the Heritage Series, will circulate alongside the existing banknotes, which will remain legal tender.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, said there would be no need for the public to exchange or withdraw their existing notes ahead of the launch.
“Let me emphasise that the introduction of the Heritage Series does not mean that the existing Ghana cedi banknotes will cease to be legal tender,” Dr Asiama said in a statement delivered at the Bank Square in Accra.
“The Heritage Series will co-circulate with the existing Ghana cedi banknotes currently in circulation. The public should therefore continue to use the existing banknotes alongside the upgraded notes.”
The clarification is aimed at preventing panic withdrawals, unnecessary exchanges and situations where traders or businesses refuse to accept the existing notes.
The Governor said the Bank of Ghana had not announced the withdrawal of any denomination or set a deadline for exchanging current banknotes.
The Heritage Series is being introduced under the theme, “The Cedi, Our Future: Secure, Designed to Last.”
According to Dr Asiama, the upgrade has become necessary due to changes in currency circulation, advances in technology and the increasing sophistication of counterfeiting methods.
“The Ghana cedi is more than a medium of exchange,” he said. “It is a symbol of our economic sovereignty and an important instrument of economic activity.”
He added that the currency must remain secure, durable and resilient as Ghana modernises its financial system and responds to changing economic needs.
The Bank of Ghana’s existing banknote designs have been in circulation for more than two decades. The new series is therefore intended to bring the currency in line with modern banknote technology while improving its ability to withstand prolonged use.
The upgraded notes will feature enhanced security measures designed to make counterfeiting more difficult. They will also be produced with improved durability to help extend their lifespan in circulation.
The Bank has yet to publicly provide details of the specific security features on each denomination. These are expected to form part of the official launch and public education campaign ahead of the November 3 rollout.
Beyond security and durability, the Heritage Series will also place greater emphasis on Ghanaian history, culture and identity.
Dr Asiama said the new designs would honour national heroes and incorporate Ghanaian iconographic elements, telling the story of the country’s past while looking towards the future.
The introduction will be phased, allowing the new notes to enter circulation as existing banknotes become worn and are withdrawn through the Bank’s normal currency-management process.
The launch does not represent a redenomination or change in the value of the Ghana cedi. Existing notes will retain their face value and legal tender status.
The Bank of Ghana has also urged the public to handle banknotes properly and avoid practices such as crumpling, writing on, stapling, spraying or using the notes for decorative purposes.
Dr Asiama said protecting the integrity of the currency was a shared responsibility between the central bank, businesses and the general public.
“Let us desist from crumpling, writing on, stapling or using banknotes for decorative purposes, money bouquets, showering, spraying or other forms of currency abuse,” he said.
He explained that damaged banknotes have to be withdrawn, authenticated, destroyed and replaced, creating additional costs for currency management.
The Governor said proper handling of banknotes would help preserve their quality, reduce replacement costs and support more efficient management of the currency.
The new series comes at a time when mobile money, digital banking and electronic payments continue to expand in Ghana. However, cash remains important to many households and businesses, particularly in informal commerce, transportation and rural markets.
The Bank of Ghana is therefore expected to place significant emphasis on public education ahead of the launch, including helping the public, banks, retailers and other cash-intensive businesses understand the new notes and their security features.
The Ghana cedi Heritage Series will officially be launched at the Bank Square in Accra on November 3, 2026.
