The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has explained that the new Heritage Series banknotes will continue to use traditional cotton-based material, but with enhanced durability and security features.
Director and Head of Currency Management at the BoG, Dominic Owusu, said Ghana’s tropical climate influenced the decision to retain cotton rather than adopt plastic or polymer banknotes.
Speaking in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Joy FM, Mr Owusu said Ghana’s warm weather and high humidity make cotton-based banknotes more suitable for the country.
“One thing we have to appreciate is that in our environment, we find ourselves in a tropical environment where people sweat, they go into the sun, it’s warm, humidity in the air is quite high in these tropics,” he said.
He noted that while some countries have adopted plastic banknotes, many of them have temperate climates that differ from Ghana’s.
“Out there, in some of the areas where they use these plastic notes, it’s in a temperate environment,” he said.
Mr Owusu explained that Ghana, like several other African countries, uses cotton-based banknotes, a material also used in the United States and parts of Europe.
“Bank of Ghana, and for that matter, Ghana and most African jurisdictions, what we use is cotton banknotes. The same thing that you find in Europe, the same thing that you find in the United States,” he said.
He said the Bank of Ghana is instead reinforcing the cotton material to improve the lifespan of the notes and keep them in circulation for longer.
“But what we are doing is that we are reinforcing the durability of the cotton to make sure that it stays longer in circulation,” Mr Owusu explained.
He, however, cautioned the public against mishandling the banknotes despite their improved durability.
“That is not supposed to mean that people must trample and mishandle the notes,” he said.
“We still want to reinforce that message to Ghanaians, that we must continue to handle the banknotes with care”.
Mr Owusu said the Heritage Series would also feature enhanced security measures and improved functionality.
“However, the new notes coming are more reinforced with security, and they are more durable, and it improves the functionality and usage of these banknotes,” he said.
The Heritage Series is part of the BoG’s efforts to modernise Ghana’s currency in response to developments in banknote technology and security.
The central bank said the initiative is aimed not only at replacing existing notes but also at protecting the integrity of the cedi and ensuring that it remains secure, trusted, durable and fit for the future.
The BoG also described the cedi as a symbol of Ghana’s sovereignty, economic identity and national pride.
The new banknotes are expected to be officially launched on November 3, 2026, at the Bank Square in Accra.
Mr Owusu said the new notes are therefore being designed to meet evolving requirements while retaining the cotton-based material currently used in Ghana’s currency.
