Confusion has emerged over the newly introduced GH¢50 banknote after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin alleged that the Bank of Ghana used the wrong photograph of Ghana’s national flag designer, Theodosia Salome Okoh.
Mr Afenyo-Markin raised the concern while speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 12, following the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
He criticised the government, alleging that its haste to remove the images of the Big Six from Ghana’s currency had resulted in the use of an incorrect portrait of Mrs Okoh.
“They were in haste to erase the Big Six from our currency and our history. Out of that haste and hate, we saw them outdooring a note bearing the name of Theodosia Okoh, but they got her picture wrong and placed a different face on the GH¢50 note,” he said.
His comments follow a similar concern raised by Professor Eddie Obeng, a nephew of the late flag designer, who suggested in a LinkedIn post that the woman depicted on the new note bears a closer resemblance to his mother, Dr Letitia Obeng, rather than his aunt.
The development has sparked public debate over the accuracy of the portrait selected to honour the woman who designed Ghana’s national flag.
However, a Bank of Ghana board member, Beatrice Annan, has defended the image, explaining that the central bank used three authentic photographs of Mrs Okoh to develop the portrait.
In a Facebook clarification, she said two of the photographs were taken during Mrs Okoh’s younger years, while the third was from a later stage in her life.
She explained that the images were combined to produce an artistic representation of Mrs Okoh as a mature woman, taking into consideration the technical requirements of banknote engraving and security printing.
Mrs Annan added that the Bank of Ghana was engaging members of the Okoh family to explain the process and address the concerns surrounding the portrait.
The GH¢50 note forms part of the newly introduced Ghana Cedi Heritage Series, unveiled by President John Dramani Mahama on November 12, 2026.
The redesigned banknotes feature prominent Ghanaian personalities, historical landmarks and cultural symbols, and are scheduled to enter circulation on December 1, 2026.
