Seven arrested for using Ghanaian banknotes to make 'money bouquets'


A bouquet made from folded Ghanaian cedi banknotes

Ghanaian authorities have arrested seven people for allegedly using banknotes to make so‑called "money bouquets" and decorate cakes.


The Bank of Ghana says the practice is illegal and amounts to misuse and improper handling of the cedi, the national currency.


All suspects were women accused of selling the bouquets in different parts of Accra, after a tip‑off triggered a swift police operation.


It marks the largest enforcement effort against currency misuse since the bank issued a warning last July that such acts could be a criminal offence.


Money bouquets are often ordered as gifts for weddings, birthdays, graduations and other celebrations, but the Kenyan, Nigerian and South African regulators have also warned against them.


The suspects face fines or jail terms, depending on court decisions, and anyone who helps or promotes the activity can also be prosecuted.


As one official put it: "The Ghana cedi is legal tender… must be treated with respect. Misuse or abuse is an offence that may attract sanctions."


Overall, the crackdown signals a regulatory shift to preserve the dignity of Ghana's national currency.