Ghana has placed one of its most celebrated sons on its money. The Bank of Ghana unveiled its new Heritage Series banknotes on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at Bank Square in Accra. The GH₵100 note carries the portrait of the late Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General.
The United Nations in Ghana quickly welcomed the move. In a statement signed by UN Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury, the organisation called the recognition a fitting tribute to a distinguished son of Ghana whose contributions reached far beyond his country’s borders. It noted that Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the UN, served from 1997 to 2006 and gave his career to peace, human rights, sustainable development and international cooperation. It also said his example should inspire younger generations to value integrity, service, dialogue and global solidarity.
Annan was born in Kumasi on 8 April 1938 and attended Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast between 1954 and 1957. He became the first sub-Saharan African to lead the United Nations.
The note itself carries the theme of peace. Its reverse features the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, which bears his name.
Annan is one of eight Ghanaian personalities on the series. Others include Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first president, and Theodosia Okoh, designer of the national flag, who appears on the GH₵50 note. The notes also show historic landmarks and Adinkra symbols, which are being used on Ghana’s currency for the first time.
The series also has a practical purpose. The Bank of Ghana says the notes carry stronger security features to resist counterfeiting and are built to last longer. The central bank says the notes enter circulation on 1 December 2026 and will circulate alongside existing notes, which remain legal tender. It has urged the public not to rush to exchange or withdraw current notes.
The launch comes ahead of the Bank of Ghana’s 70th anniversary on 4 March 2027.
For readers across West Africa, the new notes show how a country can use everyday objects to honour its history. By choosing Annan, Ghana is celebrating a diplomat whose influence was felt well beyond the continent.
