Put Nkrumah's 1957 independence photo on banknotes – Memorial Park to BoG

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has proposed replacing the image of the Big Six on selected Ghanaian banknotes with the iconic photograph of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, declaring the country’s independence on March 6, 1957.

The proposal is intended to broaden the historical representation on Ghana’s currency and celebrate significant moments in the country’s independence struggle.

It also comes ahead of Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary in 2027 and follows the Bank of Ghana’s proposed introduction of a Heritage Series of banknotes.

In a press release issued on Friday, November 6, the management of the Memorial Park said the proposed change would provide an opportunity to recognise other defining moments in Ghana’s history while preserving the legacy of the Big Six.

The park acknowledged the contributions of the Big Six to Ghana’s independence struggle but argued that their image currently appearing on almost all Ghanaian banknotes could be complemented with other significant historical representations.

It said the photograph of Dr Nkrumah declaring independence captured a defining moment in Ghana’s history and the wider African liberation struggle.

“The Independence Declaration photograph captures the culmination of Ghana’s independence struggle and the historic moment our nation broke free from colonial rule,” the statement said in part.

The management said the proposed inclusion of the photograph on selected denominations would be a fitting tribute to the historic event as the country approaches its 70th independence anniversary.

It further argued that banknotes should serve purposes beyond facilitating financial transactions, describing currency as an important medium for preserving national identity, heritage and collective memory.

“Our currency should not merely facilitate transactions; it should tell our national story. And there is no story more fundamental to modern Ghana than the moment we became free,” the statement added.