Seven Arrested in Ghana for Illegal Money Bouquets

Tue Oct 06 2026 15:34:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Accra police nabbed seven women accused of selling bouquets made from folded Ghanaian cedi, a move that violates the Bank of Ghana’s currency guidelines.

In a crackdown that marks the largest enforcement of Ghana’s currency laws, seven women were arrested in Accra for distributing money bouquets fashioned from cedi banknotes. The Bank of Ghana warned that such misuse of the national currency can lead to fines or jail time, underscoring the seriousness of protecting legal tender. With the practice gaining traction across Africa, authorities urge the public to treat cedi with respect and await court proceedings that may bring sanctions on those involved.

Seven women were arrested in Accra for selling bouquets made from folded Ghanaian cedi notes, a tactic that the Bank of Ghana says is illegal.

Acting on a tip‑off, police and central bank officials swooped on the suspects who had been marketing the money decorations across the capital.

The Bank of Ghana called the practice a misuse of currency that could "depreciate or impair" the national money, a warning it renewed in July after a surge in similar incidents.

President‑style gifts such as wedding or graduation bouquets that feature folded banknotes have become popular in Ghana and now several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, have issued similar cautions.

Dinah Bonzi, a currency head at the Bank of Ghana, said the public must treat cedi with respect and that anyone who assists or promotes such activities could also face prosecution.

If found guilty, the arrested women could face a fine or a jail term, the court will decide. The central bank hopes the arrests will act as a deterrent and remind citizens that the legal tender must be handled with dignity.