The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has dismissed claims that the portrait of the late Mrs Theodosia Salome Okoh on the new GH¢50 Heritage Series banknote was taken from a photograph of her sister, Dr Letitia Obeng.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, the central bank clarified that the portrait was developed from different photographs of Mrs Okoh, the designer of Ghana’s national flag, and not from an image of her sister.
The Bank explained that the portrait underwent artistic adjustments during the engraving process to meet the technical and security requirements of currency production. These changes, it said, included replacing Mrs Okoh’s familiar head tie with a hairstyle commonly worn during the period.
According to the Bank, the alterations contributed to the differences in her appearance and resulted in the portrait bearing a close resemblance to Dr Obeng, prompting public questions about the identity of the woman depicted.
“The Bank confirms that the portrait was developed from different photographs of Mrs Okoh and not from a photograph of her sister, Dr Letitia Obeng,” the statement said.
The central bank acknowledged the concerns raised by the public and expressed appreciation to the Okoh family for engaging with it on the matter.
It maintained that the portrait was intended to honour Mrs Okoh’s contribution to Ghana’s national identity and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that distinguished personalities featured on the country’s currency are represented with dignity.
The clarification comes ahead of the introduction of the Heritage Series banknotes, which are scheduled to enter circulation on December 1, 2026.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe