Prices of most basic foodstuffs have shot up drastically over the last one year.
The prices of some of the foodstuffs have risen as much as 50% from January 2015 to date.
A market survey conducted by The Finder at major markets in Accra revealed significant hikes in prices of foodstuffs such as vegetables, tubers, cereals, and canned and frozen foods.
At the Agbogbloshie market, this paper gathered that a sack of maize, which used to sell at GH¢140 as of January last year, now sells at GH¢220 while an ‘olonka’ of gari sells at GH¢6.50; it was sold at GH¢3.50 a year ago.
The price of beans depends on the country of origin. A cup of beans from Ghana, Nigeria and Togo now sells at GH¢7, GH¢12 and GH¢8.50 respectively. Previously, the same item sold at GH¢5, GH¢10 and GH¢6 respectively.
A medium tuber of yam (Puna) now sells at GH¢5, as against GH¢3 in January 2015.
For plantain, five fingers now sell for GH¢5, compared to GH¢3 this time last year.
Sugar, a common commodity consumed in many homes, now sells at GH¢1.60 per cup, as against GH¢1.20 last year January.
At the Makola Market, cow feet, popularly called ‘Kotodwe,’ now sells between GH¢20 and GH¢25 depending on the size, almost double the GH¢12 to GH¢15 it was sold for in January 2015.
Another important food commodity, tomato now sells at GH¢15 per small paint bucket, instead of GH¢12 in January last year.
The price of a tin of milk jumped from GH¢2 to GH¢2.50 within the year while 1 litre of cooking oil, which was GH¢7 last year January, is now selling at GH¢8.50.
The price of a carton of frozen chicken thigh rose from GH¢75 as of January 2015 to a current price of GH¢110 while a carton of frozen chicken thigh (hard) increased from GH¢95 to GH¢120.
A medium size loaf of bread that was selling at GH¢5 last year is now going for GH¢7.
A carton of frozen fish has increased from GH¢230 to GH¢300 within the one year period while a pound of salted beef, which was selling at GH¢12, now sells at GH¢15.
The price of one bar of Key Soap jumped from GH¢3.80 in January last year to the current price of GH¢6.
Some of the traders The Finder spoke to attributed the increases to the recent hikes in fuel prices and utility tariffs.
They were, however, of the view that customers would soon understand the adjustment as it is no fault of theirs.
Source: The Finder