Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr Hassan Ayariga, has called on the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to clarify the legal basis for the arrest of individuals involved in arranging Ghana cedi notes as gifts.
Dr Ayariga said the central bank must distinguish between the deliberate destruction, mutilation or permanent alteration of the national currency and the practice of arranging legitimately earned money as gifts for family members, friends and loved ones.
According to him, Ghanaians should be allowed to give their money as gifts during occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations and other celebrations, provided the currency notes are not damaged or permanently altered.
He argued that where cedi notes remain intact, the BoG should clearly identify the specific provision of law that has allegedly been breached before treating such conduct as a criminal offence.
“I strongly believe that the Bank of Ghana must distinguish between the deliberate destruction or mutilation of our national currency and the simple act of arranging Ghana cedi notes as gifts for loved ones, family members and friends,” Dr Ayariga said.
He maintained that the protection of the national currency is important, but argued that efforts to enforce currency regulations must also respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens.
Dr Ayariga said the BoG, as a regulatory institution, must operate within the law and should not exercise powers beyond those granted to it by legislation.
“The Bank of Ghana is a regulatory institution, not a law unto itself,” he said, adding that any arrest must have a clear legal foundation and comply with due process.
He further called for citizens to be treated with dignity during enforcement actions, stressing that regulation should be reasonable and enforcement lawful.
His comments come amid concerns over the treatment of individuals who arrange Ghana cedi notes in decorative or presentational forms for gifting at social and ceremonial events.
Dr Ayariga said the mere arrangement of currency notes should not automatically be equated with conduct that damages the integrity of the currency.
He therefore urged the central bank to publicly explain the circumstances under which the arrangement or presentation of cedi notes constitutes an offence and how such conduct differs from legitimate gifting.
The APC leader acknowledged the responsibility of the BoG to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s currency and discourage practices that may damage or destroy banknotes.
However, he said enforcement measures should be targeted at conduct that genuinely harms the currency rather than legitimate transactions involving lawfully acquired money.
“We must protect our national currency, but we must equally protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate businesses of Ghanaians,” Dr Ayariga said.
He called on the BoG to provide clarity on the relevant legal provisions and ensure that members of the public understand what constitutes unlawful treatment of Ghana cedi notes.
Dr Ayariga said such clarification would help prevent uncertainty among citizens and businesses while ensuring that legitimate cultural and social practices involving the presentation of money are not unnecessarily criminalised.
“I therefore call on the Bank of Ghana to clarify the legal basis for these arrests and distinguish harmless gift packaging from conduct that genuinely damages our currency,” he said.
By 1960news.com
