The Bank of Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, has arrested seven individuals in Accra for allegedly using Ghana cedi banknotes to produce money bouquets and cakes for commercial purposes. The arrests, effected on Monday, October 5, 2026, mark the central bank’s first major enforcement action following months of public warnings against the practice.
The suspects were picked up at various locations across the capital, according to the Bank of Ghana, and are expected to be prosecuted under the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242). The operation forms part of the central bank’s broader campaign against the misuse, abuse and illegal handling of Ghana cedi notes and coins.
‘Illegal and Unlawful’
Dinah Bonzi, Head of the Statistics Office at the Currency Management Department of the Bank of Ghana, said the arrests should serve as a strong warning to individuals and businesses engaged in the practice.
“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,” Ms. Bonzi said.
She explained that those arrested had been producing the bouquets and cakes specifically for commercial purposes, and that the enforcement action would extend to anyone facilitating the practice.
“Following today’s arrest on the alleged abuse of the Ghana currency, the bank wants to clearly state that persons found engaging in, aiding, promoting or facilitating such acts will be arrested and prosecuted by the appropriate law enforcement agencies,” she said.
Ms. Bonzi emphasised that the cedi is a legal tender that must be treated with respect.
“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,” she added.
Fines or Imprisonment
The Bank of Ghana confirmed that the seven individuals will be prosecuted, with potential sanctions including fines or imprisonment.
“From here they will be prosecuted,” Ms. Bonzi said. “Fines or even imprisonment according to the Act”.
Under the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242), persons convicted of tampering, altering, defacing or improperly using the national currency face a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years, a fine, or both.
A Practice Long Warned Against
The arrests follow a series of public notices issued by the Bank of Ghana in 2026. On July 14, the central bank issued Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2026/17, explicitly warning that creating money bouquets for weddings, birthdays, graduations and similar occasions “constitutes improper use of the currency and is a violation of the law”.
The notice identified a range of prohibited acts, including:
· Spraying money at events (popularly known as ‘throwing’ or ‘showering’)
· Using currency as decorations, including money bouquets, jewelry and fingernail designs
· Spreading or scattering currency notes on the ground, dancing or stepping on notes
· Tearing, crumpling, staining, soiling, defacing, melting or otherwise mutilating notes and coins
· Writing on notes, cutting, altering or otherwise defacing notes and coins
The Bank further warned in July that “money bouquets and spraying of cedi notes are now offences,” stating that the cedi was issued solely for use as legal tender and must not be tampered with.
A Growing Commercial Trend
The practice of creating money bouquets has become increasingly popular in Ghana in recent years, particularly for weddings, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day celebrations. Entrepreneurs have built small businesses around folding and arranging banknotes into decorative floral arrangements, often piercing the notes to secure them to stems — a practice that directly damages the currency.
The Bank of Ghana has described the trend as “growing and widespread,” noting that it undermines the quality, integrity, functionality and image of the national currency in circulation.
The central bank’s concern is not merely aesthetic. Damaged and defaced notes must be withdrawn from circulation and replaced, imposing costs on the state. The improper handling of currency also undermines public confidence in the cedi as a medium of exchange.
A Broader Enforcement Push
The October 5 arrests are part of a wider enforcement campaign by the Bank of Ghana. In September 2026, the central bank issued a fresh warning against spraying money at events, writing on banknotes, altering them, stepping on currency and using notes for decorations.
The Bank has also cautioned traders against rejecting cedi coins, reminding the public that refusing to accept legally recognised coins constitutes an offence under the Currency Act, with penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
‘Handle the Cedi with Dignity’
Ms. Bonzi said the latest arrests should remind the public that the cedi should not be used in ways that damage or abuse it.
“Today’s arrest should serve as a clear warning to the public. Let us all handle the Ghana cedi with dignity,” she said.
The Bank of Ghana has indicated that it will continue working with law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute individuals and businesses involved in the misuse of the national currency.
What the Law Says
The Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242) provides the legal framework for the protection of Ghana’s currency. The Act prohibits acts that tend to depreciate or impair the national currency, including any conduct that undermines its lawful value or use.
The Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612), as amended, mandates the central bank to take necessary action for the efficient performance of its functions, including safeguarding the integrity of the currency.
For the seven individuals arrested in Accra, the enforcement action signals that the Bank of Ghana is prepared to move beyond public education and warnings to arrest and prosecution.
The message to the public is unambiguous: the cedi is not a decoration. It is legal tender, and mishandling it carries consequences.
Source: Bank of Ghana, Ghana Police Service, Currency Act 1964 (Act 242), Bank of Ghana Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2026/17. Additional reporting from GhanaWeb, Adom Online, Modern Ghana, and the Ghana News Agency.
