Ghanaians are bearing the brunt of rising inflation, with the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) revealing that among the top 20 items with the highest year-on-year inflation, a staggering 15 are locally produced food items.
The report shows that ginger, dried pepper, and beans as some of the hardest-hit items, with ginger leading the pack with an eye-watering 105.7% year-on-year price increase.
Dried pepper follows closely with 93.6%, while beans, often affectionately referred to as “gob3” in Ghana, surged by 82.3%. These items, which form a significant part of the average Ghanaian diet, are now becoming increasingly inaccessible to many families.
Other locally produced foods that made the list include onions (76.7%), fresh okro (69.6%), green pepper (64.0%), and cocoyam leaves (58.4%). Traditional agricultural products such as palm fruits (56.6%), garden eggs (52.7%), and watermelon (50.3%) have also seen sharp price increases, further straining the budgets of ordinary Ghanaians.
The dominance of locally produced items on the inflation chart highlights systemic challenges within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Poor harvests due to erratic weather patterns, post-harvest losses caused by inadequate storage facilities, and inefficiencies in distribution networks have all contributed to rising costs.
These challenges are exacerbated by increasing production expenses, such as the high cost of fertilizers and transportation, which many farmers are struggling to manage.
The report also draws attention to imported items such as yam (63.3%) and pork (58.5%), which made the list alongside the locally produced items. However, the overwhelming presence of local foods on the inflation chart underscores the urgency for targeted interventions in the agricultural sector.
While it highlights vulnerabilities within the country’s agricultural sector, it also underscores the potential for sustainable, homegrown solutions to ease the burden on families and build resilience in the food supply chain.
Source: thehighstreetjournal.com