Ghana Arrests Seven Women for Crafting 'Money Bouquets' With National Currency

Ghanaian authorities have arrested seven women in the capital, Accra, for allegedly using banknotes to fashion "money bouquets" and decorate celebratory cakes. The joint operation by the police and the Bank of Ghana marks the country's most significant crackdown to date on the physical mishandling of the national currency, the cedi. Officials stated the arrests were executed following intelligence tip-offs regarding vendors selling the monetary arrangements across various parts of the city.

The Bank of Ghana emphasized that transforming legal tender into floral-style gifts or affixing notes to confectioneries constitutes an unlawful practice that compromises currency integrity. "The Ghana cedi is legal tender… and must be treated with respect. The misuse or abuse of the currency is an offence and may attract sanctions under the law," said Dinah Bonzi, an official in the central bank's currency department. She added that the enforcement action should serve as a stark warning, noting that anyone aiding or promoting these crafts could face prosecution.

The regulatory pushback follows a formal advisory issued by the central bank in July, which cautioned against actions that depreciate, deface, or undermine the lawful value of the cedi. In recent years, gifting currency folded into intricate bouquets or attaching cash to event cakes has gained widespread popularity in Ghana for birthdays, graduations, and weddings. Central banking authorities have consistently discouraged practices like folding, writing on, or "spraying" notes—the custom of tossing cash at social events.

Police investigations are currently underway, and all seven suspects are slated for prosecution, facing potential fines or imprisonment upon court determination. Ghana's regulatory crackdown reflects a broader regional trend across the continent, with monetary authorities in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana issuing similar strict warnings against the defacement and decorative misuse of their respective legal tenders.