It’s Saturday in Ghana, and somewhere across the country, in a family compound, a chop bar, or under a mango tree, fufu is being pounded. The soup is bubbling. And for many, a little glass of akpeteshie sits nearby. It’s not just lunch. It’s rhythm. It’s comfort. It’s Ghana.
But behind this familiar weekend ritual lies an understated truth from Ghana’s latest inflation data: fufu and soup, along with akpeteshie, are still quietly among the top contributors to inflation.
Not because consumption is spiking or people are indulging more. In fact, prices for both eased slightly in the past month. But their presence among the top 20 inflation drivers signals something deeper, their centrality in everyday life, and how even the most ordinary comforts reflect the broader cost-of-living story.
A Comfort Meal That’s Not Immune to Rising Costs
The cost of fufu and soup, usually made with yam or cassava with plantain, and a hearty meat or fish broth, has risen 15.0% compared to last year, according to data from the Ghana Statistical Service. In June alone, prices fell slightly by 5.2%, offering a bit of relief. But its place in the inflation rankings suggests the dish still carries weight, both culturally and economically.
In many homes, it’s the meal that brings everyone together. So even when prices go up, Ghanaians find ways to make it happen.
Akpeteshie: A Local Favourite That Holds Its Own
Just beside the soup pot, a small bottle might sit, akpeteshie, Ghana’s iconic local gin. For some, it’s a chaser. For others, a toast to end the week.
It, too, has made it into the top 20 inflation items, with an 11.4% increase over the past year. In June, its price dropped 6.7%, but the fact that it remains high on the list tells its own story: people are still buying, still sharing, even if just a little at a time.
Akpeteshie is not just a drink. It’s part of market days, festivals, quiet corners, and laughter between friends. It’s priced in cedis, yes, but valued in culture.
The Story Beneath the Prices
In a month where inflation was driven mostly by electricity, rent, and refuse collection, the presence of fufu, soup, and akpeteshie in the same list says something simple but powerful: not all essentials are utilities. Some live in kitchens, in shared bowls, in moments.
Even as macroeconomic pressures ease in some areas, Ghana’s inflation story continues to reflect daily life, from public transport to the plate.
So today, as a new weekend unfolds, the numbers quietly remind us: inflation may rise and fall, but the rituals that bind us often stay the same.
And for many Ghanaians, fufu and soup with a small tot of akpeteshie will always be worth the price.
