Seven Arrested in Ghana for Crafting Illegal ‘Money Bouquets’

Accra, Ghana – Seven women were detained by the police, in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana, after a tip‑off led officials to a sweep of suspects who were accused of creating and selling bouquets made from folded cedi banknotes. The illegal practice, intended for use on cakes and as gifts, has sparked a significant enforcement action by the country’s central bank.

The Bank of Ghana issued a warning last July that misuse of the national currency, including defacing, altering, or using notes in such a way as to depreciate or impair its value, would be treated as a criminal offence. In this case, prosecutors say the suspects were marketing the bouquets across Accra, offering them as novelty gifts for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.

Dinah Bonzi, an official in the Bank of Ghana’s currency department, warned: “The Ghana cedi is legal tender and must be treated with respect. Anyone aiding or promoting the misuse of the currency can be arrested and prosecuted.”

The arrests represent the largest enforcement effort to date against the illegal use of the currency in Ghana. Depending on court outcomes, the suspects face potential fines or prison terms. The central bank emphasized that the incident should serve as a cautionary reminder to treat the cedi with dignity.

Money bouquets—often wrapped in bright paper and placed on wedding cakes or exchanged as wedding gifts—have gained traction in recent years, prompting warnings from other African central banks. Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana have similarly cautioned against the practice, noting that defacing or repurposing national notes erodes confidence in the currency.

The case highlights a growing conflict between celebratory traditions and legal safeguards designed to preserve the integrity of national currencies. As central banks across the continent tighten their stance, the trend of money‑based gifts faces an uncertain future.