“Stop spraying Ghana cedi” - BoG Governor warns against ‘money bouquets’ as heritage series looms

Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama has called on Ghanaians to stop spraying banknotes and using the Ghana cedi to create “money bouquets,” as the central bank prepares to introduce a new generation of banknotes known as the Heritage Series.

Addressing the media on Thursday at the 132nd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings press briefing, Dr. Asiama said the integrity of Ghana’s currency is a shared national responsibility.

He urged Ghanaians, businesses, traders and financial institutions to handle banknotes with greater care and desist from crumpling, writing on, stapling, spraying and showering them, as well as using them for decorative purposes.

According to the Governor, careless handling shortens the lifespan of banknotes and increases the cost of replacing damaged currency.

Proper handling, he said, would help preserve the quality of the cedi and support more efficient currency management.

The call comes ahead of the launch of the Ghana Cedi Heritage Series, scheduled for November 3, 2026, at Bank Square in Accra.

The new series is being introduced under the theme: “The Cedi, Our Future — Secure, Designed to Last.”

Dr. Asiama said the upgraded notes will feature stronger security features, improved durability and modern designs inspired by Ghanaian heritage, culture and national identity.

The redesign is also intended to respond to advances in technology, evolving patterns of currency circulation and increasingly sophisticated counterfeiting techniques.

Importantly, the Governor stressed that the introduction of the Heritage Series does not mean existing Ghana cedi notes will cease to be legal tender.

The old and new notes will circulate together, meaning there is no need for the public to rush to exchange existing banknotes.

For the Bank of Ghana, the Heritage Series is therefore about more than a new look. It is an effort to make the physical cedi more secure, more durable and fit for the future.

And the Governor’s message to the public is equally clear: if the cedi is a symbol of Ghana’s economic sovereignty, Ghanaians must treat it with the respect it deserves.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith