Ghana authorities don arrest seven women wey dem accuse say dem use banknotes make money bouquets and decorate cakes. Bank of Ghana, wit Ghana Police Service, talk say di practice no be legal, and e amount to misuse and improper handling of di cedi, di kontri money. The arrest happen after tip-off wey lead to swoop on suspects. Dem accuse di women say dem dey sell di bouquets for different parts of Accra.
Dis arrest na di biggest enforcement of di law against misuse of currency so far. For July, di bank issue notice to warn say dis kind thing fit be offence. Di notice warn against acts wey tend to depreciate or impair di national currency, including any conduct wey undermines its lawful value or use.
Bouquets of banknotes or cakes decorated wit currency dey often ordered as gifts for weddings, birthdays, graduations and other celebrations. Police don launch investigations. Authorities talk say suspects go face prosecution. Dem fit face fine or jail term wey court go determine.
Dinah Bonzi, official for Bank of Ghana currency department, talk say anybody wey aid or promote such activities fit also dey arrested and prosecuted. She talk say di Ghana cedi na legal tender and must dey treated wit respect. She add say misuse or abuse of di currency na offence and e fit attract sanctions under law. ‘Today’s arrest should serve as a clear warning to the public. Let us all handle the Ghana cedi with dignity,’ she talk.
Di central bank don repeatedly warn against activities like spraying, or throwing money for events like weddings, writing on or altering notes, and using dem for decorations like floral-like bouquets for weddings, birthdays and other occasions. Use of money decorations don become more common for Ghana in recent years, and di practice also dey gain foothold for other African countries.
For recent years authorities for Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana also issue warnings against misusing national currencies. One additional report talk say suspects dey arrested during joint operation wey target individuals involved in production and sale of money bouquets.
Head of Statistics Office at Currency Management Department of BoG, Dinah Bonzi, tell journalists say public must no use cedi notes and coins for decorative purposes at weddings, birthdays, graduations and other social events. She talk say di practice amount to misuse and abuse of national currency and law prohibit am. ‘The Bank of Ghana wishes to issue a warning to the general public for using the banknotes and coins to create money bouquets, money cakes for weddings, for birthdays, for graduations, and other similar events, which constitutes the misuse and abuse of the currency, and it is illegal and unlawful,’ she talk.
Bonzi stress say Ghana cedi na legal tender of Ghana and must dey handled responsibly. She warn say anybody wey engage in, assist, facilitate or promote misuse of currency fit face arrest and prosecution by law enforcement agencies. For public notice issued on July 14, 2026, BoG talk say using currency notes and coins as decorations, including money bouquets, jewellery and other artistic creations, constitute improper use of currency and fit amount to offence under Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242).
Di notice also prohibit spraying money at events, scattering or stepping on currency notes, and tearing, crumpling, staining, defacing, mutilating or otherwise damaging banknotes and coins. BoG talk say dem don start enforcement measures wit law enforcement agencies to curb misuse of currency and protect integrity, quality and functionality of Ghana cedi. Di bank urge individuals, businesses and institutions to handle national currency responsibly and report suspected violations to appropriate authorities.
