The Bank of Ghana has launched a new GHS 50 note as part of its Heritage Series, but the portrait on the note is being disputed by Theodosia Okoh's nephew, Prof Eddie Obeng.
He claims the portrait is not his aunt, but his mother, Dr Letitia Obeng, a noted zoologist. The Bank of Ghana says the portrait is an engraved artistic rendering created to meet the strict technical requirements of banknote printing.
The portrait was created using three genuine photographs of Theodosia Okoh, two taken when she was young and one from her later years, merged into a single image of her as a mature woman. The Bank says it is talking with members of the Okoh family to set out the effort behind the portrait and answer the concerns raised.
The new notes will enter circulation on December 1, with the existing banknotes remaining legal tender alongside them.
The launch of the Heritage Series was done by President John Dramani Mahama to celebrate figures from Ghana's history, culture and national identity. The series includes notes with denominations of GHS 2, GHS 5, GHS 10, GHS 20, GHS 50, GHS 100, and GHS 200. The GHS 200 note features a portrait of Kwame Nkrumah, one of the Big Six independence leaders.
Prof Eddie Obeng said he had begun drafting congratulations to a cousin on hearing his aunt would be honoured on one of the new Heritage Series banknotes, then paused to examine the note itself. He wrote on LinkedIn that he was surprised to see a picture of his mother instead of his aunt. The Bank of Ghana's response came from board member Beatrice Annan, who explained the process of creating the portrait.
The Bank of Ghana is working on a new Currency Act to replace the 1964 law and tackle counterfeiting. The new act will provide a framework for the issuance of currency and the management of the currency system. The Bank is also introducing new security features to prevent counterfeiting.