The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a strong public warning against the misuse, abuse, and illegal handling of Ghana cedi notes and coins, declaring that practices such as spraying money at social events, creating money bouquets for celebrations, and defacing the national currency are criminal offences punishable by law .
The central bank’s directive, signed by the Secretary to the Bank, Aimee Vyda Quashie, notes that offenders risk arrest, prosecution, fines, or imprisonment under the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612), as amended, and the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242) .
Cultural Practices Under Scrutiny
The BoG’s notice specifically highlights growing concerns over practices deeply embedded in Ghana’s celebratory culture. These include the spraying or showering of cedi notes at weddings, funerals, and parties; scattering notes on the ground; stepping or dancing on currency; and the increasingly popular act of using banknotes to create money bouquets for birthdays, graduations, and other occasions .
The central bank described these activities as compromising the quality, integrity, functionality, and public image of the Ghana cedi . It stressed that currency notes and coins are issued solely to serve as legal tender and should not be “stamped, engraved, pierced, mutilated, crumpled or torn” . The BoG also explicitly prohibits using banknotes and coins as decorations, including for jewellery, artistic displays, and even fingernail designs .
Legal Consequences and Enforcement
Beyond the social conventions, the BoG outlined a range of other prohibited acts that carry legal consequences. These include tearing, crumpling, staining, soiling, writing on, or cutting banknotes. It also banned the reproduction or use of images of Ghanaian currency without the central bank’s prior approval .
Regarding coins, the Bank warned against gilding, silvering, colouring, filing, or otherwise altering their appearance, weight, or value. Possession of coin filings or scrapings obtained through tampering, as well as buying or selling a coin for more than its face value, are also offences .
The BoG said it is working in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and other state law enforcement agencies to monitor the handling of currency and to deal decisively with offenders . This follows a related directive issued in July 2026, where the Bank warned that refusing to accept cedi coins for payment is also a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison .
Economic Impact and Industry Reaction
The central bank’s warning has significant implications, particularly for the events and entertainment industry. As one analysis noted, an entire informal economy has evolved around sourcing, manipulating, and gifting money . The practice of crafting elaborate cedi bouquets, which can cost between GH¢500 and GH¢5,000 to produce, has been banned overnight, leaving event planners and gift vendors to adapt . The BoG’s directive draws a parallel to similar legislation in Nigeria, where the Central Bank Act was enforced against socialites for spraying Naira notes .
The Bank of Ghana explained that it spends substantial public resources annually on printing and minting currency and called on the public to preserve the cedi’s integrity . It urged individuals, businesses, and institutions to handle the national currency responsibly and to report any breaches to the nearest BoG office, the Ghana Police Service, or through the Bank’s official communication channels .
