Cedi bouquets, hampers Illegal, stop it – Bank of Ghana warns

The Bank of Ghana says it is illegal to use the cedi banknotes, the local currency as bouquets and hampers when gifting people.

The apex bank noted that the currency was issued to be used as a medium of exchange for of goods and services.

This was made known by Mr. Dominic Owusu, The Director of the Currency Department at the central bank on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

He told journalists at a briefing that any other use of the currency was illegal and subject to prosecution.

He said the bank had noticed that some people were using the cedi notes as bouquets and hampers as gifts during weddings, birthdays and other celebrations, a practice he said must be stopped, local media platform Citinewsroom reports.

He noted that beyond the illegality, the act made it easier for the notes to get defaced.

Given that spoilt and worn-out notes are replaced at a cost, he said such acts affected the operations of the central bank.