A few pesewas used to matter. They could complete a fare, settle a small market purchase, or make exact change in a way that kept daily trade moving. But in many parts of Ghana today, coins have quietly become the money people do not want to touch, and that habit is now forcing the Bank of Ghana to speak more forcefully.
Ghanaians are losing respect for their coins because many people now see them as inconvenient, slow to count, and less useful in everyday transactions. That habit has spread through markets, transport, and small businesses, even though the law still treats every cedi coin as legal tender.
The central bank has warned traders, transport operators, businesses, and the general public not to reject cedi coins, reminding them that all coins it has issued remain legal tender. It says those coins have not been withdrawn from circulation or demonetised, which means people must accept them in everyday transactions.
Small change, bigger problem
What looks like a small habit has become a bigger national issue. In many markets and lorry stations, people now treat pesewa coins like a nuisance instead of real money. Traders say customers do not want them, drivers say they slow things down, and buyers often accept the rejection without protest.
That behavior changes how money works in practice. When people refuse coins, prices often get rounded up and small buyers lose out. A commuter who should receive change may leave with nothing, and a shopper who should pay exactly may end up paying more than necessary.
The problem did not begin overnight. It started with the smallest coins and has gradually spread to the 10 and 20 pesewa pieces in some places. Once people stop seeing coins as useful, they begin to reject them almost by default.
What the law says
The law does not support that habit. Under Ghana’s currency rules, coins issued by the central bank remain legal tender, which means people must accept them in normal commercial transactions.
The punishment is also serious. According to the law, anyone who refuses to accept cedi coins in exchange for goods or services can face a fine, imprisonment, or both. The warning applies not only to traders and transport operators, but also to business owners who instruct staff to reject coins.
That is why the Bank of Ghana is speaking so firmly. It wants the public to understand that rejecting legal tender is not just rude or unfair. It can also be unlawful.
Why the habit keeps growing
Several things have helped this attitude grow. Coins are harder to keep in bulk, slower to count, and less attractive when people want fast transactions. In a busy market or at a packed bus station, many people prefer notes because they feel easier to handle.
Inflation has also made the lowest denominations feel less useful. When small coins buy very little, people stop valuing them, even though they still count as money. That is how convenience slowly turns into disrespect.
Once the habit becomes normal, it spreads. A trader rejects coins because the next trader does. A driver refuses them because passengers expect it. In that way, the problem becomes part of the system itself.
What ordinary people lose
The biggest cost falls on ordinary Ghanaians. Small change may seem insignificant, but across many transactions it adds up. A passenger may pay a little extra, a market customer may lose change, and a worker may discover that small amounts disappear from daily spending without notice.
That is why this issue deserves attention. It is not only about preserving the image of the cedi. It is also about fairness in everyday trade.
If people stop respecting coins, they weaken a basic part of the payment system. And when that happens, the people with the least room to absorb the loss are usually the ones who pay for it.
Why BoG is acting now
The Bank of Ghana’s warning sends a clear message: everyday habits must align with the law. The central bank wants traders, transport operators, and consumers to stop treating coins as disposable.
The bank also wants people to understand that legal tender is still legal tender, no matter how small the denomination. Rejecting coins may feel normal in daily life, but that does not make it right.
At the heart of the issue is a simple truth. A coin may be small, but it still has value. And in a country where every cedi counts, that should matter.
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