Big Change to Ghana’s Money: Only Nkrumah Remains on New Cedi Notes as Other Big Six Faces Removed

Ghanaians are waking up to a major change in their pockets, as the government has launched new currency notes with a very different look. During the official launch, it was revealed that five members of the country’s historic “Big Six” have been removed from the Cedi notes. This means that the faces of these founding fathers, which have been a familiar sight on Ghanaian money for years, will no longer be printed on the new notes.

The most striking change is on the GH¢200 note. Previously, this high-value bill featured the portraits of all six members of the Big Six together. However, the new design now features only one face: Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and the leader of the independence movement. The other five members—Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, William Ofori Atta, J.B. Danquah, and Edward Akufo-Addo—have been removed from the note entirely.

For the average person, this is a big deal because it changes a piece of everyday life. The Big Six are celebrated as the heroes who fought for Ghana’s freedom from British rule. Seeing their faces on the currency was a daily reminder of the nation’s history and the sacrifice of these leaders. Now, with only Nkrumah remaining on the GH¢200 note, the visual story told by the money is changing, putting the spotlight solely on the first President.

This decision is likely to spark conversations across the country. Some people may feel that removing the other five founders is a loss of historical recognition, while others might see it as a way to simplify the currency’s design or emphasize Nkrumah’s unique role as the face of independence. The government has not yet given a full explanation for why these specific changes were made, leaving many Ghanaians to wonder about the reasoning behind the redesign.

As the new notes begin to circulate, Ghanaians will have to get used to seeing a different set of faces when they handle their cash. The launch marks a significant moment in the country’s financial history, showing that even something as familiar as money can change with the times.

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