By Emmanuel Bamfo 
The Bank of Ghana (BoG), working directly with the Ghana Police Service, has arrested seven suspects across various locations in Accra for abusing Ghana cedi banknotes. The joint task force caught the individuals using fresh cedi notes to construct commercial money bouquets and money cakes for birthday and graduation gifts.
Chale, gift vendors who love folding and gluing cash into elaborate designs better take note quickly. The central bank regards gluing, folding, pins, or taping cedi notes as unlawful defacement of legal tender under Ghanaian financial laws.
Officials from the Currency Management Department at the Bank of Ghana emphasized that the national currency represents the sovereignty of Ghana and demands proper handling at all times. Creating money cakes forces citizens to crumple, pin, or glue banknotes, which ruins their physical quality and shortens their circulation lifespan.
Dinah Bonzie, Head of Statistics at BoG’s Currency Management Department, cautioned the public that the clampdown will not stop with this initial swoop. The central bank plans to prosecute anyone caught advertising, facilitating, or crafting these items for public events.
The seven arrested suspects are currently in police custody undergoing detailed investigations before appearing in court. Under section 182 of the Criminal Offences Act and central bank directives, misusing or defacing currency carries serious legal consequences including stiff court fines, police prosecution, or prison terms.
Besides money bouquets, the Bank of Ghana warned citizens against spraying money at weddings, tearing banknotes, writing on cash, or stepping on cedi notes during celebrations. The central bank urges everyone to use official banking channels or electronic transfers when giving monetary gifts rather than destroying physical notes.
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Source: Ghana News Page