Fresh Trouble for BoG as Ghanaians Raise New Questions Over GH¢5 and GH¢1 Heritage Notes

Fresh allegations circulating on social media have sparked further controversy over the Bank of Ghana’s newly introduced Heritage Series banknotes, following recent questions about the accuracy of the portrait featured on the GH₵50 denomination.

The latest claims focus on the GH₵5 note and an image appearing on the reverse of the GH₵1 note.

However, neither allegation has been independently verified.

The GH₵5 note, according to the Bank of Ghana, features Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, a renowned educationist and co-founder of Achimota School.

However, social media users have questioned the identity of the individual depicted, alleging that the portrait actually belongs to George Ekem Ferguson, a Gold Coast surveyor and diplomat.

The allegation gained traction after lawyer Noah Tietaah Yakubu shared a widely circulated post comparing the portrait on the GH₵5 note with an old photograph of Ferguson, prompting discussions about whether the Bank had correctly identified the personality honoured.

The Bank of Ghana has not publicly addressed the latest claims.

Similarly, no family member of either Aggrey or Ferguson has come forward to confirm or challenge the allegations.

Meanwhile, another controversy has emerged over the market scene displayed on the reverse of the GH₵1 note.

Several viral social media posts and videos have alleged that one of the women featured in the Makola Market illustration is actually a Zimbabwean tourist and social media influencer.

The woman has been identified in some widely shared TikTok videos as Victoria Esther Nkhama, popularly known as Esther Bosha.

According to the claims, Bosha visited Ghana in 2021 and took a photograph with some traders at Makola Market.

The posts suggest that the photograph was subsequently used by the banknote designers without recognising that one of the women in the image was not Ghanaian.

For the GH₵1 denomination, the Bank of Ghana has identified the woman featured on the front as Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome, a Makola trader and independence activist. Her identity has not been the subject of the latest social media allegations.

The fresh claims follow the controversy surrounding the GH₵50 note, which the Bank says celebrates Theodosia Salome Okoh, the designer of Ghana’s national flag.

Questions emerged after social media users suggested that the portrait on the note bore a closer resemblance to Dr Letitia Obeng, the sister of Theodosia Okoh.

The debate intensified when Dr Eddie Obeng, son of Dr Letitia Obeng and nephew of Theodosia Okoh, stated in a LinkedIn post that the photograph used for the banknote portrait was that of his mother rather than his aunt.

In response, the Bank of Ghana released a statement explaining that the portrait was developed using several photographs of Theodosia Okoh, with technical modifications contributing to the perceived resemblance to Dr Letitia Obeng.

Despite the Bank’s clarification, the GH₵50 controversy has continued to attract public attention.

With questions now being raised about the GH₵5 and GH₵1 denominations, scrutiny of the Heritage Series banknotes has intensified just days after their public unveiling.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/New-concerns-arise-over-BoG-s-GH-5-And-GH-1-allegedly-featuring-Zimbabwean-influencer-2061364#google_vignette

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