The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is set to introduce upgraded Ghana cedi banknotes as part of efforts to strengthen their security, durability and overall integrity.
The initiative, known as the Ghana Cedi Heritage Series, is scheduled to be launched on November 3, 2026, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has announced.
Dr Asiama disclosed this at the 132nd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference held in Accra on Thursday, September 24.
According to the Governor, the upgraded notes will feature enhanced security measures, improved durability and contemporary designs intended to reflect Ghana’s history, heritage and national aspirations.
“The upgraded banknotes incorporate enhanced security features, improved durability, and modern designs that reflect Ghana’s heritage and Ghana’s aspirations,” he said.
Dr Asiama also called on traders, businesses, financial institutions and members of the public to take greater care of the cedi notes, stressing that protecting the currency is a collective responsibility.
“Preserving the integrity of the banknotes is not the function of the Bank of Ghana alone; It is a shared responsibility.
“All Ghanaian businesses, traders, and financial institutions handle the banknotes with the care they deserve. Stop crumpling, writing or stapling them; don’t use them for money bouquets, showering and spraying at events.”
Responding to questions about the financial implications of the upgrade, the BoG Governor said adequate preparations had been made to cover the cost of the exercise.
“We have budgeted for it, we have everything documented, and it will be reflected in our 2026 audited accounts,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Monetary Policy Committee maintained the policy rate at 14 per cent, following a unanimous decision by its members.
Dr Asiama said headline inflation stood at 5 per cent in August, which is below the lower boundary of the Bank of Ghana’s 8±2 per cent target band.
He attributed the inflation developments partly to exchange rate stability, which he said had helped contain imported inflation, while inflation expectations had also eased across the groups surveyed.
The Governor further reported that the average bank lending rate had declined by 15.9 per cent, while private sector credit growth had recorded a rebound.
He said the banking sector remained solvent, profitable and liquid, with the Non-Performing Loan Ratio falling to 15.7 per cent.
On the international front, Dr Asiama noted that geopolitical tensions had continued to constrain global supply chains.
At the domestic level, he said the committee had observed continued resilience in economic activity.
The MPC therefore unanimously maintained the policy rate at 14 per cent.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.