The Bank of Ghana (BoG), working with the Ghana Police Service, has arrested seven persons for allegedly using Ghana cedi banknotes to produce and sell money bouquets.
The arrests followed a joint operation targeting individuals involved in the use of currency notes for decorative purposes, a practice the central bank says amounts to the misuse of the national currency.
Speaking to journalists, the Head of the Statistics Office at the Currency Management Department of the Bank of Ghana, Dianah Bondzi, cautioned the public against using cedi notes and coins to create money bouquets, money cakes and other decorative items for weddings, birthdays, graduations and similar events.
According to her, such practices are unlawful and undermine the proper handling of the national currency. “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 said.
Ms Bondzi stressed that the Ghana cedi is the country’s legal tender and should be treated with care and respect. She warned that persons who engage in, assist, promote or facilitate the misuse of banknotes and coins could face arrest and prosecution. The warning follows a public notice issued by the Bank of Ghana on July 14, 2026, which stated that the use of currency notes and coins for decorative purposes, including money bouquets, jewellery and artistic displays, constitutes improper use of the currency and may amount to offences under the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242).
The notice also cautioned against spraying money at social events, scattering or stepping on banknotes, as well as tearing, crumpling, staining, defacing, mutilating or otherwise damaging Ghana cedi notes and coins.
The Bank of Ghana said it has stepped up enforcement in collaboration with state security agencies as part of efforts to protect the integrity, quality and functionality of the national currency.
It has therefore urged individuals, businesses and event organisers to handle the cedi responsibly and report suspected cases of currency abuse to the appropriate authorities.