Food vendors have expressed dissatisfaction with the market’s frequent pricing hikes.
The price of a 25-litre container of cooking oil is alleged to have risen from GH¢380 to GH¢1000 in the last three months.
A 25 kilogram bag of rice has increased from GH¢195 last year to GH¢390, while a carton of chicken has increased from GH¢125 per 10 kg in July to GH300.
“A carton of frozen chicken used to sell at GH¢260 but now, it is going for GH¢300. If I knew it was going to be increased, I would have bought a lot for storage, but there isn’t money to even make that large purchase”, one seller said.
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Some food sellers informed that they are only in business to maintain their clientele since they make no money.
“I am unable to increase prices, so it is only a small margin that I have added just to maintain my customers”, another said.
According to Ghana Statistical Service data for September 2022, food inflation was 37.8%, while non-food inflation was 36.8%.
Inflation for domestically produced goods was 35.8%, while it was 40.7% for imported goods.
The Western Region saw the highest food inflation (47.0%), while the Eastern Region experienced the highest non-food inflation (42.0%). Eastern Region had the highest total inflation rate (41.0%), followed by Western Region (40.2%) and Greater Accra Region (39.3%).
Transport had the greatest rate of inflation in the Eastern Region (68.7%), while Fish and Other Seafood had the highest rate of inflation in the Western Region (64.0%).
More than 90 percent of the sampled items recorded an increase in price.
SOURCE: CITINEWS
