Market women complain of rising prices of commodities

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Market women are complaining about the rising cost of commodities and are asking the government to intervene. Prices of foodstuff and manufactured items, both locally produced and imported, have been rising for some time now, giving rise to the concern by the market women.

The rising rate of inflation, currently at 17.89 per cent, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), is evidence of the increase in the prices of items, especially food. Some market women in the Accra Metropolis have attributed the rise in the price of foodstuffs to the increasing transport fares despite the drop in world price of crude oil.


Madam Caroline Korda, who trades in poultry products at Kaneshie Central Market in Accra, told Ghana News Agency that high transport fares had led to increases in the prices of the commodities. She said a crate of eggs which sold at GH4.20 two weeks ago was now selling at GHC4.70.


Madam Miriam Nartey, a shop owner, on the other hand, said it was only the price of rice that had been stable during the last two months ago.

She said the prices of rice, sugar, oil and canned and fresh tomatoes had shot up rapidly.


Madam Nartey said an "olonka" of gari which previously sold at between GHC 1.30 and GHC 1.50 was currently selling at GHC1.70 whiles the a bag of gari had shot from GHC 80 to GHC 100. "The demand for such commodities is very high because they are the main staple foods consumed by Ghanaians," Madam Korda added. Mr Abudullah Musah, a trader, also said a bag of onion which was previously sold at GHC 100 was currently selling at GHC 170.