Journalists schooled on new GHC5 note

As part of its activities to celebrate Ghana’s 60th years independence, Bank of Ghana (BoG) has taken its public education on its 60 years commemorative GHC5 note to the Western Region, taking journalists through key security features on the note.

The new note which was introduced and circulated on March 7th 2017 has the portrait of Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey at its front view and a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform at its back.

Speaking during the exercise, the Head of Currency Management at BoG, Edward Mussey explained that they chose Dr. Aggrey in appreciation of his contribution towards education in Ghana and beyond.

“You know Dr. Aggrey was a scholar by excellence, a visionary and a great philosopher who did so much to enhance education in Ghana and beyond especially in West Africa and South Africa. He was also known for several important statements, famous of which is “if you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you have educated a family and or a nation”, he explained.

Highlighting the features of the new note, he noted that the durability of the GHC5 is unique making reference to the enhanced security features that come with it.

He said users of the new note must check for the authenticity of the note by looking out for the iridescent band which becomes apparent when note is tilted,

Also he said users must check QR Code which when scanned leads to special bank of Ghana website that explains the details of the bank note, including optically variable ink which also changes the colour of the figure 5 at the top left from green to blue when tilted, and the tactile mark which also assists the visually impaired.

Mr. Mussey assured the public of constant engagement which will help facilitate notes handling etiquette and detecting “fake” currencies.