Theodosia Okoh's Nephew Prof Eddie Obeng Claims Photo on New GH¢50 Heritage Note is Not Her

• Professor Eddie Obeng, a Ghanaian academic, made a surprising claim on LinkedIn after examining Ghana's newly unveiled Heritage Series banknotes
• Obeng said the portrait on the GH¢50 note, intended to honour his aunt Theodosia Okoh, appears to show his mother, Dr Letitia Obeng, instead
• The Bank of Ghana unveiled the Heritage Series banknotes on November 12, 2026, with circulation set to begin on December 1

Professor Eddie Obeng, son of renowned Ghanaian scientist Dr Letitia Obeng and nephew of Ghana's national flag designer, Theodosia Okoh, has sparked conversations online after claiming that his mother's photograph was mistakenly used to represent his aunt on the new GH¢50 Heritage banknote.

Professor Eddie Obeng, a management expert, shared the observation on LinkedIn after taking a closer look at the new denomination.

The GH¢50 note was officially designated to honour Theodosia Salome Okoh, the celebrated Ghanaian artist who designed the country's national flag. Okoh is also Obeng's aunt.

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Woman on GH¢50 note not Theodosia Okoh?

Obeng described how his initial pride at the news of his aunt's recognition quickly gave way to a double-take. He wrote that he had already begun drafting a congratulatory message to his cousin when he stopped to examine the note properly and noticed something unexpected.

"Imagine my surprise when I took a look and realised that they have used a picture of my mother instead, she's famous for being the country's first lady PhD," he wrote in the post, before concluding with: "You can't make it up."

The woman Obeng believes appears on the note is Dr Letitia Obeng, his mother, a distinguished Ghanaian zoologist who made history as the first Ghanaian woman to earn a doctorate. She is also the sister of Theodosia Okoh, which makes the alleged mix-up all the more striking.

Obeng ended his post on a wry note, writing that he had:

"a wry smile on my face that won't go away, and occasionally I shake my head or giggle."

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See a screenshot of the LinkedIn post below:

Ghana's New Heritage Series Banknotes

The Bank of Ghana unveiled the Heritage Series on Thursday, 12 November 2026, in a move designed to celebrate prominent figures from the country's history, culture and national identity.

The new notes feature an impressive roll call of Ghanaian icons, including the country's first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, composer Dr Ephraim Amu, educationist James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey and pioneering judge Justice Annie Jiagge. Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome and Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery also feature across the series.

The notes are scheduled to enter circulation on 1 December 2026 and will run alongside existing banknotes, which remain legal tender.

Public appeal to Mahama over Big Six removal

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported on film producer Jackson K Bentum’s appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to restore all six members of the Big Six to Ghana’s new cedi notes.

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Bentum argued that currency reflects the nation’s shared history, warning that political differences should not erase the contributions of independence figures. His appeal follows public debate over which historical figures were chosen for the Bank of Ghana’s Heritage Series.

Source: YEN.com.gh