An Assembly Member for the Tumu Zongo Extension Electoral Area, Osman K. Shaibu, has raised serious concerns over what he describes as the widespread and total rejection of Ghana’s 10 and 20 pesewa coins in Tumu and its surrounding communities.

In a statement issued to the press, Mr. Shaibu noted that his keen observations and checks across various stores and petty trading businesses in the area reveal that these specific denominations are no longer being accepted as a valid medium of exchange.

The rejection, he warns, could have adverse implications for trade and consumer confidence in the local economy if not addressed swiftly.

“The 10 and 20 pesewas coins were reintroduced in their current form as part of the new Ghana cedi (GH¢) in July 2007,” Mr. Shaibu noted, providing context to the history of the currency. “They remain legal tender and are valid for transactions, yet the public is refusing to take them.”

The Assembly member was keen to stress that neither the Bank of Ghana nor the Government has issued any directive or announcement demonetizing these coins. Their refusal, therefore, appears to be a unilateral decision by traders, which technically undermines the official currency.

Mr. Shaibu has therefore issued an urgent appeal to the relevant authorities to intervene before the situation escalates.

He specifically called on the Municipal Chief Executive, the Commander of the Ghana Police Service in the area, and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to investigate the matter and enforce the use of the legitimate currency.

Furthermore, he appealed to the media within the Sissala area to help amplify the issue, educate the public, and ensure that traders do not unlawfully refuse the coins.

“What is happening is illegal and we must stop it before it becomes something else,” Mr. Shaibu warned.

The move by traders in Tumu mirrors similar occurrences in other parts of the country, where small-denomination coins are often rejected due to perceptions of low value or inconvenience in handling, despite their legal status.

By Iddrisu Lutuf Nibisi