Explainer: How to identify a fake cedi note before you accept it

A recent crackdown by Ghana's National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has dismantled multiple alleged counterfeit money operations around Accra, resulting in 16 arrests and the seizure of printing equipment and counterfeit currency. Some suspects are suspected to have used churches and other religious buildings to hide their activities, as such places are often overlooked when they harbor suspicious equipment and materials.

The NSCS named Rev. Emmanuel Boakye-Danquah as a possible suspect in one of the cases, but he remains at large. Other suspects include Adamu Haruna and Amankwah Bismark, who are also believed to be key figures in these operations.

To protect yourself from receiving counterfeit notes, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) recommends checking certain security features on the cedi notes. When holding the note against the light, look for a watermark of Tetteh Quarshie and a cocoa pod on the left side. On the right side, where the Big Six portrait is located, there should be a line running from top to bottom.

Tilt the note to see a shiny symbol with a moving golden bar at the lower left corner on specific denominations. A 3D image stripe also runs from top to bottom on certain notes, and a security thread with a visible star expands and contracts when tilted. Additionally, there is a touch mark at the top right corner that can be felt by the blind and visually impaired.

The BoG also advises comparing a suspicious note with a genuine one of the same denomination from a different source, not through photos or printouts. They have announced plans to introduce a new series of banknotes, called the Heritage Series, on November 3, 2026. The current notes will remain in circulation and remain legal tender.

The BoG warns that counterfeiting is punishable by law and urges anyone who suspects a note is fake to report it to the police immediately. The National Security Council Secretariat is also encouraging the public to report suspicious large-scale printing and unusual foreign currency transactions to the nearest security agency, particularly in religious premises.