The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has called on the government to intensify research and price monitoring in the country’s most inflation-hit regions, warning that national averages mask serious local cost pressures that demand targeted intervention.
According to the July 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report, Ghana’s overall year-on-year inflation eased to 12.1%, the lowest since October 2021 and the seventh consecutive monthly decline. However, the headline figure conceals stark regional disparities, with some areas facing inflation more than twice the national average.
The Upper West Region once again leads with 24.8% inflation, down from a staggering 32.3% in June, yet still more than double the national rate. Upper East follows at 21.1%, while Western North (18.2%), North East (16.4%), and Savannah (15.0%) round out the top five most expensive regions in the country.
At the other end, the Central Region posted the lowest inflation rate in July at 7.7%, with Bono East (10.0%) and Greater Accra (9.5%) also staying below the national average.
The GSS is urging the government to align social protection and economic policy tools, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) outreach services, and the school feeding programme, with the needs of these high-inflation areas. This would help cushion households most affected by sharp price rises in food, utilities, housing, and other essentials.
The July CPI report shows that food prices remain a key driver of inflation, with national food inflation at 15.1%, compared to 9.5% for non-food items. Locally produced goods recorded 12.9% inflation, while imported items saw a lower rate of 10.0%. Month-on-month, overall prices rose 0.7% between June and July, with locally produced goods increasing by 0.9% and imports by just 0.1%.
Without location-specific inflation management, the benefits of the national disinflation trend may not reach communities where cost-of-living pressures remain most severe.
