Authorities in Ghana have arrested and arraigned at least seven women accused of using Ghanaian cedi banknotes to make money bouquets and money cakes for commercial purposes.

The suspects’ arrest was part of an ongoing joint operation by the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service, targeting individuals suspected of unlawfully misusing Ghanaian currency.

Before the latest enforcement, the Bank of Ghana had reportedly issued a formal notice in July warning the public against using cedi banknotes for commercial purposes, including decorations, spraying at events, tearing, crumpling, writing and other forms of misuse.

Addressing the media after the arrest of seven women, who were picked up at several locations in Accra, Dinah Bonzi, the head of the Statistics Office at the Bank of Ghana’s Currency Management Department, said that abusing currency is unlawful in Ghana.

“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,” Mr Bonzi said.

Ms Bonzi vowed to prosecute the suspects, stressing that Ghanaians must treat the currency with respect.

“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.

“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,” Ms Bonzi stated.

Like Ghana, Nigeria prohibits the commercial use or abuse of its banknotes, including practices such as spraying, mutilating and using the naira for decorative purposes.

In 2024, crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of naira abuse. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecuted him for spraying naira at a social event.

Kannywood actress Saadatu Inuwa was convicted in February this year after a video circulated on social media showing her using naira notes to wipe her nose.