Cedi coin rejection spurs BoG warning nationwide

The Bank of Ghana has warned that refusing to accept cedi coins and notes in transactions is a criminal offence under Ghanaian currency laws, punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both. It reiterates that all coins currently in circulation remain legal tender and must be accepted for settling debts and conducting transactions. The coins in question include pesewa denominations as well as GH₵1 and GH₵2 coins, none of which have been demonetised. The public, businesses, and individuals may face arrest without a warrant, and could be prosecuted with penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment or fines for deliberately refusing legal tender. The BoG said it will enforce the rules in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and other law enforcement agencies, and urged compliance from traders, transport operators, and other entities across the economy. This stance follows previous notices addressing currency misuse and signals a broad crackdown on attempts to circumvent legal tender during everyday commerce.