Traders in the Takoradi Central Business District are voicing concerns over the sharp increase in grain and cereal prices, which they say is driving down sales.
In interviews with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), several traders attributed the price hikes to unstable weather patterns and rising transportation costs to market centers.
Madam Georgina Afful, a seller of cereals and grains, highlighted the dramatic price increase, noting that a bag of white beans, which sold for GHC1,000 last year, now costs GHC2,400. Similarly, the price of a bag of Bambara beans has risen from GHC1,250 to GHC2,700, while millet, previously GHC900, now sells for GHC1,200.
She explained that most of the commodities are imported from Niger and Burkina Faso, and the cost of transportation has significantly impacted prices.
“Times are really tough, and rising fuel prices have also driven up costs from producers to the market,” she added.
Madam Faustina Cudjoe, another grains trader, echoed these concerns. She pointed to this year’s insufficient rainfall as a key factor, with producers placing higher value on their limited harvests, which has further driven up prices.
She reported that a ‘paint rubber’ of maize, previously GHC35, now sells for GHC45, while an ‘olonka’ of groundnut has jumped from GHC40 to GHC60, and soya beans have increased from GHC25 to GHC35.
Madam Cudjoe called on the government to take steps to reduce food commodity prices, in order to boost sales and ease the burden on traders. Rice sellers, however, were unable to provide specific price figures, citing the varying costs associated with different rice varieties.
