Traders at Madina Market lament high cost of foodstuff

The Food Price Variability Report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), released in April 2024, estimated that food prices have increased by over 100% this year.

At the Madina market, one of Accra’s bustling market squares, RGG News spoke with traders to compare the current prices of foodstuffs with what pertained a few months ago.

The women who trade in onions shared their frustrations and heartbreaks, as they face substantial losses in their business due to various uncontrollable factors.

RGG News observed that a sizeable onion which was sold at GH¢3 and GH¢5, was now selling from GH¢10 and above, while a tuber of yam which was sold at GH¢12 and GH¢15 now sells at GH¢30, GH¢40, and GH¢60, depending on its type and size.

Maame Vida, one of the market traders in onions was unhappy about buying an expensive sack of onions only to see most of them squishy and rotten.

“They have increased the price to GHC1,500 and since most of the onions are squishy, the prices will also increase. So, what was sold for GHC50 is now GHC80, GHC20 is GHC50 and GHC5 is now GHC10.

Just in two days, the price of a sack of onions has spiked from GHC1,200 to GHC1,500 so the small container of onions that used to sell at GHC50 is now GHC70 and GHC100,” she explained.

Also, the price of a box (‘adaka’) of tomatoes according to the tomatoes sellers has increased by 360% in less than six months. They revealed that the price of the ‘adaka’ which was GHC1,500 in January has spiked to GHC6,000.00.
30 pieces of tomatoes which used to be sold for GH¢20, now sold at the same amount for six pieces, while a basket of tomatoes which was sold for GH¢50 and GH¢60 has gone up significantly, trading at GH¢250 and GH¢300.

From further checks at the Madina Market, cocoyam leaves (kontonmire) had reduced significantly due to the recent rainfall pattern compared to the dry season in February and March this year.

“At first the price of cocoyam leaves (kontonmire) was expensive, but it is better now due to the rains. We used to sell it for GHC8 and GHC10, but you can now get the same for GHC5 and less,” a kontonmire seller said.

Four pieces of Okro which was sold at GH¢3 two months ago, now sells at GH¢6 for three pieces, while turkey berries which was sold at GH¢2 now sells at GH¢4 and GH¢5.

Some customers that spoke to RGG News said the soaring cost of food commodities had made it difficult to manage their household expenses.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage our household expenses with these relentless price increases,” a customer lamented.

According to Madam Comfort, she found it difficult to provide food for her family as her “housekeeping money” of GH¢200 could not match the increasing price of food commodities on the market.