Apaak lauds BoG for capturing true socio-economic, political history of Ghana in new banknotes

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has praised the Bank of Ghana for its newly unveiled Heritage Series cedi banknotes, describing them as a reflection of Ghana’s true history.

In a Facebook post following the unveiling, Dr Apaak commended the central bank for capturing the country’s socio-economic and political history in the commemorative notes.

He also used the opportunity to weigh in on the longstanding debate surrounding Ghana’s founding history, insisting that the country has a founder, regardless of differing opinions.

“The BoG must be highly commended for capturing the true socio-economic and political history of Ghana in the 70th Anniversary commemorative cedi notes outdoored. There has and would always be a founder of Ghana. Those still in denial are free to believe what they want. God bless our homeland Ghana,” he wrote.

The Heritage Series, unveiled by President John Dramani Mahama at the Bank of Ghana’s headquarters in Accra, features distinctive designs celebrating Ghana’s history and cultural identity through national heroes, historic sites, monuments and Adinkra symbols.

The redesigned notes also incorporate images of notable Ghanaians whose contributions have helped shape the country’s development, alongside significant historical landmarks.

Beyond their historical and cultural significance, the new banknotes come with enhanced security features, improved durability and more portable sizes intended to make everyday transactions more convenient.

Produced from reinforced cotton paper, the notes are designed to last longer and are smaller and easier to handle.

The new notes are expected to enter circulation on December 1, 2026, and will circulate alongside the existing banknotes.

Their introduction will also be accompanied by a new Currency Act to replace the outdated Act 242 of 1964. The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the fight against counterfeiting, with authorities promising tougher consequences for offenders.

President Mahama, who unveiled the notes with assistance from the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, said the strength of the national currency must translate into tangible improvements in the everyday lives of Ghanaians.

He linked his confidence in the future of the cedi to the productive capacity of the Ghanaian economy and his government’s proposed $10 billion, four-year New Economy Programme, which seeks to expand domestic production, increase exports and reduce dependence on imports.

For his part, Dr Asiama reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the currency and ensuring public confidence in the cedi.

He disclosed that the bank had developed its Enterprise Currency Operations Management Software in-house and announced plans for a Cedi App to educate the public, including visually impaired persons, on identifying and understanding the features of the new banknotes.

The unveiling ceremony attracted traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the private sector.