GH¢50 Note Portrait Is Authentically Theodosia Okoh, Not Anyone Else – Beatrice Annan

Stop the confusion. The face on the new GH¢50 note is Theodosia Salome Okoh, the woman who designed Ghana’s flag. It is not anyone else.

That is the clear message from Beatrice Annan, lawyer and Board member of the Bank of Ghana, after Ghanaians started asking questions online about the portrait.

When the new GH¢50 Heritage Series note was unveiled on Thursday, November 12, 2026, many people looked closely at the woman on it.

Professor Eddie Obeng, a nephew of Mrs Okoh, said he was first proud to see his aunt honoured. Then he looked again and got a shock. He said the woman looked like his own mother, Dr Letitia Obeng, instead of his aunt. His post spread fast, and soon many people were asking: Did the Bank use the wrong photo?

Mrs Annan did not run away from the talk. She answered it directly on Facebook on the same day.

She said the Bank did not pick one photo from somewhere and put it on the money. The Bank worked with three authentic photographs of Mrs Okoh herself — two from when she was young, and one from later in her life.

Those three photos were put together to show Mrs Okoh as a mature woman.

This is the part many people missed. A banknote portrait is not a normal photo. It is an engraved artistic drawing. It must be sharp, well-lit, and full of fine detail so it can be printed in a special way and carry security features that stop fake money.

Because of that, the Bank had to make small changes. Mrs Annan said the hairstyle was adjusted to reflect the family’s preferred style and to give a clear outline that can be reproduced well on a banknote. The family resemblance was kept, but the image was made bold and clear enough for money.

In her own words: “The aim throughout was to produce a bold, clear and dignified image worthy of her place in our history.”

Mrs Annan said the Bank is now engaging Mrs Okoh’s family to explain the work behind the portrait and to answer their concerns.

The new Heritage Series notes, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, celebrate great Ghanaians, historic places and cultural symbols. The GH¢50 note is dedicated to Mrs Okoh, whose flag design was adopted at independence in 1957.

The notes are expected to enter circulation on December 1, 2026, while the old notes will still be accepted for a while.

Ghanaians can argue about how the portrait looks. But according to the Bank of Ghana, the source is not in doubt.

Three real photos of Theodosia Okoh went in. One engraved portrait of Theodosia Okoh came out.

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