Accra vendors reject 20 pesewa coins

Residents in parts of Accra are struggling to use smaller cedi denominations. They particularly have issues with the 20 pesewa coin as legal tender.

Last weekend, The Mirror checked communities like Adabraka, Mateheko, and Circle. Many residents expressed their dissatisfaction with this situation.

Public places often refuse five 20 pesewa coins for GH¢1 “toilet paper.” This has led informal workers, like waste collectors, to also reject small coins.

Some waste collectors and toilet operators cited handling difficulties as a reason for refusal. A public toilet operator at Agege, Braimah Zion, said accepting coins could lead to losses.

Food vendors are also affected. Vendors of noodles and other items noted that many customers avoid smaller denominations. They reported that customers often refuse coins when given as change.

A resident named Yaw Asomani shared his experience at Circle. He tried to buy gari and beans but was refused because he paid only with 20 pesewa coins.

Miss Comfort Boadi runs Kyeiwaa noodles at Adabraka. She stated that the introduction of small coins was meant to simplify trade but has made transactions harder instead.

She explained that many customers refuse smaller denominations outright. To cope, she tells them to return later for change if they pay with coins.

Due to these challenges, traders have no choice but to store coins under 50 pesewas in containers. Miss Hannah Okai, a retailer in Accra Central, showed a container full of 20 pesewa coins.

She counted GH¢600 worth of these coins but faced rejection at the bank when she tried to exchange them for notes. Other traders had similar experiences; banks refused their small denomination coins too.

Okai questioned what citizens should do if banks won't accept the smaller denominations.

According to the Bank of Ghana (BoG), various cedi and pesewa denominations have circulated since 1965. The BoG is the only institution authorized to issue and redeem Ghana Cedi notes and coins.

Efforts by The Mirror to reach BoG officials for comment were unsuccessful. They did not respond to calls or questionnaires sent by the newspaper.