Bank of Ghana Says All Pesewa Coins Remain Legal Tender and Must Be Accepted

The Bank of Ghana has moved to clear up confusion over the country’s smallest coins, reminding the public that every pesewa coin in circulation remains valid for payments. Dominic Owusu, Director of Currency Management at the central bank, said all Ghana pesewa coins are still legal tender and should be accepted in day-to-day transactions.

The reminder comes amid growing complaints that some traders, transport operators and service providers have been refusing pesewa coins, especially the one-pesewa denomination. Many Ghanaians have reported that sellers often round prices up or simply decline the coins, arguing that they are inconvenient to handle or no longer useful.

Owusu’s statement makes clear that the law does not support such refusals. A coin that has not been formally withdrawn by the Bank of Ghana remains legal tender, meaning it must be accepted when offered in payment. Businesses that turn away pesewa coins risk acting outside the rules governing the country’s currency.

The central bank has previously encouraged Ghanaians to continue using the coins rather than letting them pile up at home or discard them. Keeping small denominations in active circulation helps ensure that prices can be set and paid exactly, and it supports smoother transactions in markets, shops and public transport.

Currency management officials say public education will be important in changing attitudes. Some traders have complained that counting large volumes of low-value coins is time-consuming, while others say the coins are often scarce because they are not recirculated. The Bank of Ghana has urged people to return the coins to banks so they can be put back into circulation.

For ordinary consumers, the message is straightforward: pesewa coins remain money, and no one should be denied the right to use them. Anyone who believes they have been wrongly refused a pesewa coin can raise the matter with the Bank of Ghana or report it through the appropriate channels.

The Bank of Ghana’s position underscores a wider point about trust in the currency. As long as a coin is issued and not withdrawn, it carries the full backing of the central bank, and both buyers and sellers are expected to treat it as such.