Cedi Photo Change Debate As BoG Asked For Redesign

An intense debate has erupted across Ghana following a request that the Bank of Ghana under the leadership of Dr Johnson Asiama replace the Big Six image on selected banknotes with the photograph of Ghana’s Independence Declaration.

According to a report by TV3 Ghana on 6th November, 2026, the management of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is asking the central bank to make the change. The proposal has since drawn wide reaction from citizens on social media, with opinions sharply divided.

Supporters of the proposal argue that the Independence Declaration photograph captures the actual moment of Ghana’s liberation and the people who were physically present on that occasion. In their view, it offers future generations a more accurate visual record of history. Some commentators also hold that the image better represents those they consider the real fighters for the country’s freedom.

Opponents, however, see the request as unnecessary and poorly timed. A number of citizens question what tangible benefit the change would bring, asking which national problem it would solve and what development it would add to the country. Others raise practical concerns, including the cost of printing new notes, and argue that a redesign would do nothing to strengthen the value of the cedi.

A third strand of the debate centres on history itself. Some Ghanaians stress the contribution of the Big Six in discovering and mentoring Kwame Nkrumah, insisting that the nation owes them gratitude and that removing their image would be ungrateful. Others contend that the Big Six, as a collective, never existed in the way popularly presented.

Between these positions, a compromise has emerged. Some citizens suggest featuring the Independence Declaration photograph on a different denomination instead of replacing the Big Six altogether, so both pieces of history are honoured.

As of now, the Bank of Ghana has not publicly responded to the request. The debate is expected to continue as Ghanaians weigh national symbolism against economic priorities.

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