During the Heritage Series launch of Ghana’s new Cedi banknotes in Accra on Thursday, November 12, 2026, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV has praised the Bank of Ghana for incorporating the country’s cultural heritage, history and national identity into the redesigned currency.
He described the initiative as a “significant innovation that honours national heroes, recognises Ghana’s traditions and gives citizens a renewed sense of ownership of their currency.”
The traditional ruler observed that the Cedi, which was introduced in 1965, has become an integral part of Ghana’s national heritage over its 61-year history.
“Giving the Cedi a new identity in a way that honours our heroes, that respects our past heritage and our cultural traditions, is a significant innovation for which Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama and his colleagues deserve tremendous applause.”
Togbe Afede XIV
Togbe Afede explained that the new banknotes have been designed to communicate aspects of Ghana’s shared history and cultural identity. He identified the inclusion of national figures and familiar cultural symbols as an important way of ensuring that the currency represents more than its monetary value.
In addition, the Agbogbomefia underscored the significance of preserving the heritage inherited from previous generations. He drew attention to Ghana’s National Pledge, which commits citizens to protecting and safeguarding the heritage secured through the “blood and toil of their forefathers.”
The traditional ruler consequently expressed the expectation that the renewed sense of national ownership associated with the currency would encourage citizens to work collectively towards development. He identified unity, progress and national advancement as essential aspirations that the new series should inspire.
“Our heritage is very important,” Togbe Afede remarked, emphasising the responsibility of citizens to preserve the historical and cultural foundations of the country. He also recognised traditional authorities, or Nananom, as an important part of the national heritage that the new banknotes seek to celebrate.
He further commended the Bank of Ghana for recognising the country’s diverse cultural and religious traditions through the designs. The initiative, in his assessment, provides an opportunity to acknowledge the different institutions, personalities and belief systems that have shaped Ghanaian society.
The launch, therefore, represents an opportunity to give the Cedi a renewed identity while strengthening the connection between the currency and the country’s historical inheritance. Togbe Afede expressed his satisfaction with the initiative and, on behalf of his fellow traditional rulers, formally declared the new series of banknotes launched.
Cedi Heritage Series App Showcases Banknote Designs and Security Features
Beyond the cultural significance of the new banknotes, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV also introduced the Heritage Series application as an educational tool for exploring the redesigned currency and understanding its security features.
He demonstrated how the application enables users to examine the different denominations, discover the stories behind their designs and learn how to identify their distinctive security characteristics.
The traditional ruler explained that the application provides information on the banknotes’ durability, convenience and protection against counterfeiting. He also highlighted the differences in their sizes, noting that the variations are to make the denominations easier to distinguish, including for visually impaired users.
“First of all, a brief introduction to the series tells us that it is built to be very secure. Security meaning that it is difficult to duplicate so that it can carry the value that it’s supposed to represent without dilution by criminals.”
Togbe Afede XIV
Togbe Afede proceeded to demonstrate how users could select individual denominations within the application to explore the images and historical references incorporated into their designs. He drew attention to the portrait of a prominent market queen on one of the notes, alongside a market scene that captures the importance of trading and commerce in Ghanaian heritage.
He also highlighted the representation of religious traditions through the inclusion of Cardinal Dery and a mosque. The traditional ruler observed that these features recognised the importance of Christianity and Islam within Ghana’s social and cultural landscape.
In addition, the application presents designs associated with education, innovation, creativity and the justice system. Togbe Afede pointed to the inclusion of Achimota School and the renowned educationist James Kwegyir Aggrey as examples of the historical references incorporated into the banknotes.
The application also provides an interactive demonstration of the security features embedded in the different denominations. He explained that users could select a banknote and tilt the displayed image to observe changes in colours, designs and other visual elements that correspond with features on the physical currency.
Using the GH¢200 denomination as an example, the traditional ruler demonstrated how certain designs became visible or changed appearance when the note was tilted.
He explained that these features were intended to distinguish the denominations and make counterfeiting more difficult. “Each of the currencies has unique security features to distinguish them and then to make them very, very unique,” he remarked.
Subsequently, Togbe Afede encouraged public familiarity with the application as a means of understanding the redesigned banknotes. He expressed satisfaction with the initiative and proceeded to formally launch the Heritage Series on behalf of his fellow traditional rulers.
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