Prices of foodstuffs in Koforidua increase

Prices of commodities in the Koforidua Central Market have increased, a survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the weekend revealed.

Foodstuffs such as plantain, yam, cocoyam and cassava are expensive while garden eggs and kontomire are the cheapest items.

A bunch of plantain is sold from GHc20.00 to GHc40.00, a small basket of cassava and cocoyam is sold for GHc10.00 whilst a tuber of yam is sold for GHc8.00 for the big size and GHc5.00 for the small size.

A bowl of tomatoes is sold for GHc10.00 and a pack of onion depending on the size is sold between GH¢5.00 and GH¢1.00.

Other items such as oranges are sold at GH¢12.00 per 100 instead of GH¢5.00.

A few months ago a bunch of banana was sold for GH¢4.00 and a basket for GH¢15.00.

Recently, these commodities are being sold lower than the prices quoted, for instance, five big sizes of onion in a pack is going for GH¢1.00 and a medium size of a tuber of yam is GH¢2.50.

Tilapia, a popular delicacy, which used to sell at six big sizes for GH¢10.00, is now going for GH¢ 20.00, dried Volta fish, which was selling at GH¢2.00, is now GH¢5.00.

Salmon, which used to sell at a range of GH¢1.00 to GH¢ 3.00, is now selling between GH¢3.00 to GH¢ 8.00.

According to the market women, the prices of the food stuffs had gone up mainly because of the increase in transport fares from the farm gate to the market centres and high cost of production.

Madam Akua Serwah, one of the traders, who brings food stuff from Akwadum near Suhum, in an interview with the GNA, said the high cost of living had compelled farmers to increase their produce at the farm gate.