Ghana’s first Servant of God and first Cardinal from Northern Ghana, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery (1918-2008) has been honoured on the front of the new Heritage GH¢2 Bank note and the historic Larabanga Mosque on the back.
The orange-and-gold note, themed “Religious Freedom”, also carries the Adinkra symbol Nyame Dua – Tree of God – meaning God’s presence and protection. It enters circulation on 1st December 2026 and will run alongside the current series.
The pairing is being celebrated as a powerful sermon on Ghana’s religious tolerance – a Catholic Prince of the Church and an ancient Islamic sanctuary on one legal tender.
The Front: Who Was Cardinal Dery?
He is more than a Cardinal from the north. He is a pioneer of Ghanaian Catholicism:
Among the first Catholics of the North: Born 10th May 1918 at Zimuopare-Ko, near Nandom, he was baptized 24th December 1932 among the early converts of northwestern Ghana.
First of his people: Ordained 11th February 1951 at St. Theresa’s, Nandom, he became the first Dagaaba to become a Catholic priest.
A Pope-made Bishop: When Pope John XXIII created the Diocese of Wa on 3rd Nov 1959, Dery was named its first Bishop on 16th March 1960. On 8th May 1960 he was consecrated Bishop in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, by Pope John XXIII himself.
Inculturation Pioneer: With Vatican permission, he composed the first Dagaare Mass, sung to local melodies with local instruments. He was a Council Father at Vatican II (1962-1965).
Nation Builder: Founder of St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary, Wa, and numerous schools. Apostolic Administrator of Tamale from 1972, first Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale from 30th May 1977. President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1982-1988) and recipient of the Grand Medal of Ghana, 1974.
Cardinal & Saint-in-the-making: Retired 1994, created Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on 24th March 2006 – becoming the second Ghanaian Cardinal after Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson (2003) and the first from Northern Ghana. He died 6th March 2008. Declared Servant of God on 13th July 2013 – the first Ghanaian to receive the title. Cause for beatification opened 9th May 2015 in Tamale.
The Back: Why Larabanga?
1421 – A Dream: According to tradition, Islamic trader Ayuba rested near the Mystic Stone and in a dream Allah told him to build a mosque. On waking, the foundations were already laid. He completed it in 7 days.
The Baobab Grave: The massive baobab by the entrance today marks Ayuba’s grave, its leaves used for healing.
The Heavenly Quran: The mosque keeps an ancient Quran believed gifted from heaven in 1650 to Imam Yidan Barimah Bramah after intense prayers.
Architecture of Survival: Built in Sudanese-Sahelian style, 8m x 8m, mud and timber, two pyramidal towers. Called “Mecca of West Africa”, still an active place of worship.
Endangered to Enduring: Listed by World Monuments Fund among 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2002 after storms damaged its minaret and mihrab. Restored by Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and WMF, with major work again in 2023. On Ghana’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.
Why It Matters: In a Sahel torn by sectarian violence, Ghana’s GH¢2 note is more than money. It is a national statement that Christianity and Islam can share one story, one note and one nation.
By Robert Dela Mawuenyegah
