Ghana Arrests Seven Women Over Cedi “Money Bouquets”

What changed

Ghanaian authorities have arrested seven women accused of using cedi banknotes in “money bouquets” and cake decorations in Accra. The arrests, which followed a tip-off, are the country’s biggest enforcement action against misuse of its currency; police investigations are under way and the suspects could face fines or imprisonment decided by a court.

Why it matters

The Bank of Ghana is drawing a hard line around a practice tied to weddings, birthdays and graduations. Spraying cash, writing on notes, altering them or turning them into decorations can now carry legal risk, even when the money is being used as a gift.

That changes the calculation for sellers and customers alike. A bouquet that looks festive can also become evidence in a police case, while businesses built around these products may need to stop offering them or find another way to create the same celebratory effect.

The July warning was the signal; the arrests are the enforcement. The specific charges and penalties remain unknown, but anyone helping promote the practice could also be arrested and prosecuted.