Seven Ghanaian women have been taken into custody following a police operation that targeted sellers of cash‑made bouquets and cake decorations. The Bank of Ghana stated the activity constitutes misuse and improper handling of the cedi, the country’s legal tender.
The arrests were carried out after a tip‑off that led to a raid on suspected vendors operating throughout Accra. Authorities said the operation marks the most extensive enforcement against currency misuse to date.
In a recent circular, the Bank of Ghana warned that acts which depreciate or impair the national currency—including manufacturing decorative items from banknotes—could be prosecuted under law. The circular also cautioned that anyone who facilitates these practices could face legal action.
Dinah Bonzi, an official in the Bank of Ghana’s currency department, clarified that the cedi remains legal tender and must be treated with respect. She further explained that the misuse of currency carries penalties that may involve fines or imprisonment, depending on court determinations.
Money‑bouquet vendors frequently offer their products as gifts for weddings, birthdays, graduations and other celebrations. Growing popularity of such decorative items has prompted financial regulators across Africa to take notice. Authorities in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana have issued warnings against the unlawful use of national currencies for similar purposes.
The Bank of Ghana has emphasised that the country’s currency laws apply to all forms of public display, reinforcing the government’s stance against derelict or disrespectful use of the cedi.
