Removal of Big 6 from cedi notes politically motivated; NPP must restore the images in future – Musah Superior

Former Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Iddrisu Musah Superior, has described the removal of the Big Six from Ghana’s redesigned banknotes as politically motivated, arguing that the decision risks undermining the country’s historical heritage. He has also urged a future New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to restore the images of the six independence figures on the country’s currency, insisting that national history should not be altered to suit the political preferences of successive administrations.

In an opinion piece responding to the redesigned Ghanaian cedi notes, Mr Musah Superior questioned the decision to depart from the established representation of the Big Six, which includes Dr Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey and William Ofori Atta. He argued that the personalities represented on the country’s currency are part of Ghana’s collective history and should not be displaced based on the political interests of the government in power.

“The Big Six is not the property of any political party. They are part of Ghana’s national story,” he stated. Mr Musah Superior said the decision raises concerns about whether the country is gradually developing a political culture in which successive governments seek to redefine national symbols and historical representations to reflect their ideological preferences.

He cautioned that such an approach could undermine historical continuity and turn national heritage into an instrument of partisan rivalry. Read Also: A Nation Must Never Become A Prisoner Of Its Political History: The dangerous politics of erasing our national heritage “The NDC government must understand that winning an election does not confer ownership of the country’s historical narrative.

Electoral victory grants a political administration the mandate to govern within the constitutional order; it does not grant it the authority to redefine the country’s collective memory according to partisan convenience,” he wrote. While acknowledging that currency redesign and modernisation fall within the responsibilities of the Bank of Ghana, he maintained that such changes should not unnecessarily diminish established national representations.

He argued that if the intention is to recognise additional Ghanaian personalities, the country can do so without displacing those already honoured. “A confident nation adds to its history; it does not selectively subtract from it,” he said. Mr Musah Superior further called on the Bank of Ghana to provide adequate historical justification for the changes and encourage a broader national conversation on preserving Ghana’s heritage.

He said currency modernisation should focus on security, efficiency, durability and innovation without creating the impression that the country’s history is being subjected to partisan revision. Looking ahead to a possible change of government, the former MCE said he would strongly advise the next NPP administration to restore the Big Six to Ghana’s banknotes.

“And let it be clearly stated: when the New Patriotic Party returns to government, the traditional representation of the Big Six should be restored to Ghana’s currency, subject to the necessary institutional and technical processes,” he stated. He stressed, however, that such a move should not be an act of political revenge or an attempt to erase the contributions of other national figures.

“Not as an act of revenge, not to erase anybody else’s contribution, but as a reaffirmation that national heritage must be protected from the changing political preferences of successive governments,” he added. Mr Musah Superior concluded that Ghana’s history belongs to all its people and must be protected from partisan manipulation. “Governments will come and go.

Presidents will change. Political parties will win and lose elections. But Ghana must remain Ghana, with its history intact, its heritage respected, and its national identity protected,” he said.