Heritage Series: Here are prominent Ghanaian personalities featured on new Ghana cedi notes

The Bank of Ghana has newly unveiled Heritage Series banknotes today, marking a departure from the existing currency design.

A close examination of the new Heritage Series unveiled on Thursday, November 12, 2026, by the Bank of Ghana, shows that only Dr Nkrumah retained a place on the new banknotes, while the other five members are absent.

The new series features other prominent Ghanaian personalities whose contributions span politics, religion, education, public service, culture and international diplomacy.

The Heritage Series, however, adopts an individual-portrait approach, recognising personalities whose contributions helped shape Ghana’s political, educational, cultural and diplomatic history.

On the GH¢1 note is Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome, who is said to be the first Makola woman to open a bank account with the then Standard Bank of West Africa (now Standard Chartered Bank).

Cardinal Peter Porekuu Dery, a revered Catholic priest from Zimuopare (Ko), near Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana back in the 1950s, features on the GH¢2 denomination.

James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey is featured on the GH¢5 note, with Justice Annie Jiagge, the first woman in Ghana and the Commonwealth of Nations to become a judge, appearing on the GH¢10 banknote.

The GH¢20 note features Dr Ephraim Amu, the composer of the Twi version of the Ghana national anthem, Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni, while Theodosia Salome Okoh, the designer of the Ghana flag, is on the GH¢50 denomination.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan features on the GH¢100 note, while Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, appears on the GH¢200 banknote.

Dr Nkrumah’s appearance on the GH¢200 note represents a change from the existing series, where his portrait appeared on the ceremonial GH¢2 denomination as part of the collective image of the Big Six.

The Big Six became prominent figures in Ghana’s independence struggle following their arrest by the British colonial authorities in 1948 after disturbances in Accra.