The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has tightened sanctions against the issuance of dud cheques, warning that customers who commit the offence three times will be barred from using cheque books for three years and denied access to new credit facilities across the banking sector.
The revised directive, which took effect immediately on June 24, 2026, requires all banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) to enforce the sanctions and notify affected customers within five working days after receiving the central bank’s directive.
Under the new rules, third-time offenders will have all unused cheque books recalled and their names published by the Bank of Ghana. Although they will still be allowed to receive funds into their accounts and carry out electronic transactions, they will not be permitted to issue new cheques or obtain fresh credit during the three-year sanction period.
Customers who fail to return unused cheque books within ten working days will face additional penalties, including restrictions on operating current accounts and placement on a high-risk list of cheque issuers maintained by the central bank.
BoG said the tougher measures became necessary because the persistent issuance of dud cheques continues to undermine public confidence in cheques as a reliable means of payment.
The directive replaces earlier guidelines issued in 2021 and 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen discipline within Ghana’s payment system and preserve trust in cheque transactions.
Source: businesspostonline
