The swoop by the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service resulted in the arrest of seven suspects at various locations across Accra after they allegedly assembled and sold money bouquets and money cakes for commercial gain.

According to the central bank, these arrests form part of a broader, ongoing enforcement exercise aimed at preventing the destruction, defacement, and improper handling of the national legal tender.

Dinah Bonzi, the Head of the Statistics Office at the Currency Management Department of the Bank of Ghana, detailed the rationale behind the operation and reiterated the bank’s official position regarding currency handling.

Highlighting the illegality of these popular social trends, Dinah Bonzi stated,

The Bank of Ghana wishes to issue a warning to the general public for using 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 is illegal and unlawful.

The central bank made it clear that legal liability extends beyond the primary creators to include facilitators and promoters as well. Bonzi cautioned that

persons found engaging in, aiding, promoting or facilitating such acts will be arrested and prosecuted by the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

currency, adding,

The Ghana cedi is a legal tender of the Republic of Ghana and must be treated with respect. The misuse or abuse of the currency is an offence and may attract sanctions under the law.

The central bank confirmed that all seven arrested individuals will face formal prosecution, where court judgments could result in severe penalties.

Outlining the potential legal consequences, Bonzi indicated,

From here they will be prosecuted... Fines or even imprisonment according to the Act.

Beyond money bouquets and cakes, the Bank of Ghana has previously warned against various public practices that compromise the physical integrity of banknotes.

These prohibited activities include spraying money at social gatherings, utilizing notes for decorative items, scattering or stepping on currency, writing on banknotes, and physically altering notes.

Emphasizing the need for civic responsibility, Dinah Bonzi concluded,

Today's arrest should serve as a clear warning to the public. Let us all handle the Ghana cedi with dignity.

The joint crackdown by the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service serves as a clear reminder that creative celebration trends must operate strictly within the law.

With seven suspects facing prosecution, fines, or imprisonment, event vendors and celebrants must immediately rethink how they handle Ghana cedi banknotes.

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Rather than risking criminal sanctions by crafting currency into bouquets or cakes, Ghanaians are encouraged to adopt lawful gifting alternatives, such as direct mobile money transfers or bank deposits.

To protect yourself and your business, stop using physical cedi notes for decorative arrangements today and help preserve the dignity of Ghana's legal tender.

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