Activist Edmund Yakani [

A civil society activist has raised concerns over government agencies requiring citizens to pay taxes and fines in cash, saying the practice is creating difficulties during a shortage of physical money.

Edmond Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, says some government agencies are imposing cash payments without providing alternative options.

He cited traffic police as an example, saying motorists fined for traffic violations are sometimes required to pay their fines in cash.

“These days, you realize that some government agencies responsible for collecting taxes or fines from citizens who have violated the law are demanding cash payments,” he explained.

“For instance, traffic police officers who fine you for a traffic violation demand cash when you want to pay the fine, yet access to cash at banks is limited,” he said.

Yakani is calling on government agencies to introduce alternative and accessible payment systems instead of relying solely on cash.

“And you come to realize that such state agencies, whether collecting fines for violations or taxes, do not accept any form of payment apart from cash,” he stated.

He says this is particularly important at a time when many citizens are struggling to access physical cash through banks.