The Management of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has formally requested that the Bank of Ghana replace the image of the Big Six on selected banknote denominations with a photograph of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, announcing the nation’s independence on March 6, 1957.
Announced on November 6, 2026, the proposal aims to broaden the historical representation on Ghana’s currency by incorporating one of the country’s most defining moments. The park said the change would celebrate Ghana’s independence struggle and its emergence as a sovereign nation, especially as the country prepares to mark 70 years of independence in 2027.
In a statement signed by Acting Executive Director Collins Rawlings Nunyonameh, the park said the proposal aligns with the Bank of Ghana’s planned introduction of a Heritage Series of banknotes. It argued that the series presents an opportunity to recognise significant personalities, historical events and milestones that have shaped Ghana’s national identity.
The park acknowledged the historical contributions of the Big Six to Ghana’s independence struggle, noting that their role in the country’s political history deserves lasting recognition. However, it believes that featuring their image on almost all Ghanaian banknotes presents an opportunity to expand the range of historical figures and events represented on the national currency.
“The image of the Big Six currently features on almost all Ghanaian banknotes. While their contributions to Ghana’s independence struggle remain historically significant and deserve lasting recognition, there is an opportunity to broaden the historical representation on our national currency by incorporating other defining moments in Ghana’s history,” the statement said.
According to the park, the proposed change would replace the Big Six image on selected denominations rather than removing their representation entirely. It explained that currency serves purposes beyond facilitating financial transactions, as banknotes also provide an important platform for communicating a country’s identity, heritage and collective memory.
As the Bank of Ghana considers the proposal, citizens and historians alike will watch to see whether the iconic photograph of Dr Nkrumah will soon appear on Ghana’s money.
