Rumours of price-hikes creates panic in Upper West.

Wa, Dec. 27, GNA - Rumours that there would be price increases of goods and services is not only creating panic among the rank and file of the people in the region but also compelling poor rural farmers to sell their foodstuff in order to buy most of the items before the hikes.

The items the people were scrambling for are mostly building materials such as cement, roofing sheets, roofing wood, among others, while others are also rushing for bicycles and farming implements that would be beneficial to them during the farming season.


Ghana News Agency [GNA] investigations revealed that the rumours were peddled round by politicians before the December 7 elections, who among other things, campaigned that if the people should vote for the NPP prices would be increased after the Christmas festivities, hence the scramble for the goods and services after the elections.


According to Mr. Damien Faalu, a businessman based in Wa, said when he went to his village for Christmas from December 24 to 26 the village people confronted him for verification on the issue, which he could not immediately give an answer.


He said the rumour had spread far and wide which government officials need to come out and react to put the doubting 'Thomases' to rest and to eradicate the created tension among rural dwellers.


Mr. Thomas Kapiri, a student of the University of Ghana who confirmed this to the GNA said a lot of people came from his village, Naro in the Nadowli district of the region to consult him on this issue.

According to him he was also baffled by the rumour when they came to consult him but could neither confirm nor deny as he was not at home for almost five months.


He said such rumours disturb people at the rural areas as they rely mostly on their few educated relatives and the local radio stations for information.


The rumour has however not been able to influence price-hikes in the stores and shops that the GNA visited.


"The prices of our goods and services are sent to us by our suppliers and I don't see why I should start increasing prices without receiving new price list from my supplies" Mr. Kwabena Sefa a businessman concluded