Ghana Arrests 7 Women Over Popular Money Bouquets as Bank Cracks Down
Ghanaian authorities have nailed seven women accused of flogging a cottage industry in making money bouquets and cakes from cedi banknotes , as the Bank of Ghana gets serious about tackling what it sees as a questionable way to use the country’s currency turning it into home decor.
The women got pinched at several locations in Accra on Monday as part of a joint sting involving the Bank of Ghana and the police, in response to growing unease about the practice of using banknotes as novelty gifts.
These money bouquets have taken off for special occasions like birthdays, weddings and university graduation bashes, where folks are presented with arrangements made from fresh new currency notes.
But the Bank of Ghana reckons that using cedi notes for such decorations breaks the rules as per the country’s Currency Act.
Bank of Ghana Arrests Seven Money Bouquet Makers
The Bank of Ghana said the seven suspects got taken in during an operation targeting businesses that specialise in making decorative arrangements and cakes out of Ghanaian banknotes.
This crackdown follows a warning notice issued by the central bank in July telling people to lay off using cedi notes for decorative purposes.
According to the Bank of Ghana, this whole thing is a breach of the rules improperly using the country’s currency and that can get you into hot water with the law.
“This is basically a misuse of the currency and is against the law” that’s the word from Dinah Bonzi, the head of the stats office at the Currency Management Department – who spoke to AFP.
These latest arrests have turned a spotlight on the emerging money bouquet scene in Ghana, with small businesses that do these gifts now left wondering if they should keep on going.
Why Is Ghana Cracking Down on Money Bouquets?
The Bank of Ghana says its crack down is pretty much all about making sure people treat the country’s currency with respect and don’t mess with it.
Though these money bouquets are usually made as gift arrangements and can be removed later spent the central bank still reckons this whole thing is a misuse of banknotes.
Bonzi warned that the authorities are going to keep an eye out for anyone breaking the rules and will take action if they need to.
“We really need to start treating the Ghana cedi as the proper currency it is. Anyone found hassling with or abusing it is gonna get dealt with” – that was Bonzi’s message.
The warning means businesses and individuals in the money bouquet racket could be in for a world of trouble if the authorities decide their activities run counter to the currency regulations.
Money Bouquet Businesses Fear Crackdown
The recent arrests have left a lot of anxiety among entrepreneurs who’ve built a whole business around money bouquets, especially young folks working during graduation ceremonies and other celebrations – you know, the ones where they make a big show of ripping the cash out.
Sandra Smith – not her real name, but we’re using pseudonyms to protect the private lives of these bouquet makers has been in the game for five years & is now appealing to the authorities to consider the impact all this is having on small businesses.
“these bouquets add a bit of colour & flavour to these occasions & by the time the recipients get their hands on the cash, it’s just a normal bit of money” Smith said.
She’s also questioning why the police felt the need to arrest all these young women who she sees as just trying to make a living in a service that’s become pretty popular.
“I think the authorities are going just a bit too far by arresting these innocent young ladies who are just trying to find some way to earn a living & create jobs for themselves”
She’s really highlighting the problem that’s pitting the central bank’s currency regulations against the livelihoods of these businesses that’ve emerged around people giving cash as a gift.
Ghana Also Bans Other Forms of Cedi Misuse
The Bank of Ghana isn’t just worried about money bouquets.
The central bank has been telling people off about loads of other things involving Ghanaian banknotes like spraying them around at events & turning them into decorations – & actually even stepping on or scribbling on them.
The warnings are part of a big campaign to get people to treat the cedi like actual money, rather than some fancy decorative item.
What Does Ghana’s Currency Law Say About Money Bouquets?
The Bank of Ghana issued a notice in July saying that using cedi banknotes as decorations is actually against the law, under the Currency Act.
They’ve also been warning that people who get caught could face fines or even end up in prison.
The arrests show that the authorities are now starting to enforce these rules on businesses involved in money bouquets.
For the people making money bouquets, this could mean they have to find some new way of packaging up their celebratory gifts that don’t involve actually using banknotes as decorations.
Will Ghana Continue Arresting Money Bouquet Makers?
The Bank of Ghana has said that they’re going to keep going after people who misuse the national currency.
That means even more trouble could be on the way for individuals & businesses who get caught up in the money bouquet trade, cash decorations & other practices they see as a problem.
All this is bound to keep the debate going about how far currency protection rules should actually go, especially when businesses argue that customers just rip the notes out & spend them as normal cash.
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Ghana Arrests 7 Women Over Popular Money Bouquets as Bank Cracks Down
