The Bank of Ghana has assured the public that existing banknotes will remain legal tender and continue to circulate alongside the new Heritage Series when the upgraded notes are introduced on November 3, 2026.
Director and Head of Currency Management at the Bank of Ghana, Dominic Owusu, said there is no need for the public to rush to exchange their existing notes for the new ones.
“You don’t need to rush to go and exchange with your existing notes,” Mr Owusu said.
According to him, both the old and new versions of the banknotes will co-circulate, meaning Ghanaians can continue using their existing notes for everyday transactions.
“Both the old and the new will continue to be legal tender until further notice. So they will co-circulate together,” he explained.
He added: “When you want to do transactions, you can use the old to do transactions, and you can also use the new.”
No New Denomination Above GH¢200
The Heritage Series is being introduced as part of efforts to modernise Ghana’s currency while improving the security, durability and functionality of the banknotes.
The new series will be officially launched on November 3 at the Bank Square in Accra.
The denominations covered are GH¢1, GH¢2, GH¢5, GH¢10, GH¢20, GH¢50, GH¢100 and GH¢200.
Mr Owusu also clarified that the exercise does not involve the introduction of a denomination higher than GH¢200.
He urged the public to disregard unverified claims circulating on social media about new higher-denomination notes and instead rely on official information from the Bank of Ghana.
He explained that the upgrade is also aimed at ensuring the banknotes remain durable and fit for circulation into the future.
“What we want to say is that we have to look into the future, make sure that we are able to reinforce the banknote so that it becomes fit for future use today and future use,” he said.
Bank of Ghana to Educate Public
The Bank of Ghana is expected to embark on public education when the Heritage Series enters circulation.
The education campaign will focus on helping the public identify the new notes, understand their security features and learn how to authenticate them.
Mr Owusu also urged Ghanaians to handle the cedi with care, describing it as an important symbol of national identity.
“It is our national pride. It represents us as a nation, apart from the flag. So we must keep it clean and handle it with care,” he said.If you want, I can also give you 10 very catchy Ghana-news-style headlines for this story.
