Home - Put Nkrumah's 1957 Independence photo on cedis – Memorial Park tells BoG

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has asked the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to replace the image of the Big Six on selected cedi denominations with the iconic photograph of Dr Kwame Nkrumah declaring Ghana's independence on March 6, 1957.

The proposal comes as Ghana prepares to mark 70 years of independence in 2027 and follows the Bank of Ghana's launch of its redesigned Heritage Series of banknotes on November 3, 2026.

In a press statement issued on November 6, the Memorial Park argued that although the Big Six played significant roles in Ghana's independence struggle, the country's currency should also recognise other defining moments in its history.

It believes the photograph capturing Nkrumah's declaration of independence represents one of the most significant events in Ghana's history and deserves a place on the national currency.

The Park described the moment as the culmination of the country's struggle against colonial rule and a defining turning point that established Ghana as a sovereign nation.

It also argued that the photograph carries significance beyond Ghana, given the country's influence on the wider African liberation movement.

The proposal is being made at a time when the Bank of Ghana is introducing a redesigned series of cedi banknotes under the Heritage Series initiative.

The central bank has explained that the redesigned notes are intended to reflect Ghana's history, culture and national identity, while incorporating improved security features and greater durability.

Against this background, the Memorial Park believes the redesign presents an opportunity to broaden the historical representation on the country's currency.

According to the Park, banknotes should serve a purpose beyond facilitating financial transactions, as they also represent a country's identity, heritage and collective memory.

It maintained that the image of the Big Six, which currently features on the front of Ghana's banknotes, should not be the only major representation of the country's independence history.

The Big Six comprised Kwame Nkrumah, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori Atta and Edward Akufo-Addo.

The six were prominent leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) who became central figures in the country's independence struggle.

However, the Memorial Park believes the historic photograph of Nkrumah announcing Ghana's independence should also receive national recognition through its inclusion on selected banknote denominations.

" Our currency should not merely facilitate transactions; it should tell our national story. And there is no story more fundamental to modern Ghana than the moment we became free," the statement said.

The Park further described March 6, 1957, as an enduring symbol of Ghana's freedom, sovereignty and national identity.

Ghana attained independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957, becoming the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from a European colonial power.

The country will commemorate the 70th anniversary of that historic milestone in 2027.

The Memorial Park believes featuring the independence declaration photograph on selected cedis would provide a fitting tribute to the event and ensure that a defining moment in the country's history remains visible to generations of Ghanaians.

The statement was signed by Dr Collins Rawlings Nunyonameh, Acting Executive Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

EA