BEAC launches application to fight banknote counterfeiting.

In his release, Sana Bangui said the app is free and will help users across member States of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, verify the authenticity of banknotes.

The Governor briefed the public in his release that the application can be downloaded on play Store tore and Google Play. 

He detailed that the application has features which makes it easy to check the raised or tactile prints, observe the dynamic effects of banknotes by tilting and inspect the fluorescent elements under the ultraviolet light.

According to the BEAC boss, users can verify the authenticity of banknotes in their possession by observing with the naked eyes features such as, the watermark incomplete pattern, ticket numbers and security thread.

BEAC NG2020, the official stated, will be targeting mostly microfinance institutions and other financial institutions that form the first lawyer of defense against money laundry.

Situating the context of launching the application, the Governor noted that, it is to fight against the worrying rise of counterfeiting across the CEMAC zone.

It is reported that in 2024, fake banknotes worth 1.5 billion FCFA were intercepted in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Other significant seizures of fake banknotes are said to have also been carried out in Congo.

The Bank’s Governor has meanwhile insisted that, the initiative is a to boost trust in the FCFA currency that is the legal tender for CEMAC member countries viz; Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo.

By Selabeua Kaji Irista & Abianina Nsoe Viviane, Journalism students on internship

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3526 of Thursday August 07, 2025.