Ghana: Desist from gifting out cedi bouquets, hampers; it is illegal – BoG warns

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has cautioned against the use of the currency, especially the cedi notes in making bouquets and hampers.

This, the Director of the Currency Department at the central bank, Mr. Dominic Owusu, stated is because it is illegal.

He added that the use of the cedi aside from its purposes could be subjected to prosecution.

“In recent times, you see people using the currency for bouquets and then sometimes when they want to do presentations, they use the currency to do designs in baskets, hampers. It is against the Bank of Ghana policy,” he stated while addressing the media.

According to him, the cedi issued by the central bank is legal tender and is it only supposed to be used as a medium of exchange, not as gifts and bouquets.

He asserts that when the currency is used for other purposes, it is defaced and that such acts harm the central bank’s operations.

He added that the “Currency Act 64 talks about using coins which for now are banknotes for things either than that purpose for which the currency act was issued.”

“Desist from such acts, it is not in line with the policy so you must stop it. If you want to give a present, go and buy gifts. Don’t go and buy bouquets and do it,” he advised.

He also used the medium to debunk claims of the Bank of Ghana issuing a 500 cedi coin.

According to him, such information circulating on social media to that effect is false.