Prices of foodstuffs in major markets in Accra and its environs swelled up in the first week of December ahead of the Christmas season, picking up from mixed activities in September and November where commodity prices fluctuated.

A survey conducted in major markets in Accra revealed that while the prices of some commodities recorded a reduction in November as compared to September and October, others saw a marginal increase. Some commodities also recorded a massive hike in prices in December which the sellers attributed to the Christmas season and other conditions.

The markets visited included: Ashaiman, Tema Community One, Seven, Kaneshie, Kpone, Katamanto and Makola.

At the Ashaiman market, traders attributed the high prices of commodities to the unfavourable weather conditions which affected farmers’ output this year. This, they noted, put pressure on traders to increase prices due to scarcity.

In the intervening time, the prices of one basket of carrot marginally rose from GH¢180.00 to GH¢190.00. A sack of ginger recorded a 21.4 percent increase in price, as it moved from GH¢700.00 recorded in October to GH¢850.00 this week.

Vegetable Prices Traded Mixed

At the Tema Community One market for example, the price of a bag of onion differs based on the country of origin and quality. Those from Ghana went for GH¢780.00, while the ones from Nigeria was pegged at GH¢650.00 and those from Niger at GH¢600.00.

The average price of Ghanaian onions increased from GH¢700.00 last month to GH¢ 780.00 this week and a sack of palm nut also moved from GH¢140.00 to GH¢160.00 this week.

Pepper prices also jumped by 20 percent. A sack of Pepper moved up from GH¢500.00 in October-November to GH¢600.00 this week, while garden eggs and okro recorded no change in price. The price of garden eggs was pecked at GH¢230.00 per sack. Okro was pegged at GH¢150.00 per basket.

Cabbage saw a marginal increase from GH¢950 recorded in November to settle at GH¢1,000.00 per sack this week. Besides, green pepper price also moved from GH¢120.00 recorded in November to GH¢150.00 this week per a basket.

A bag of millet saw no price movement as it remained at GH¢380.00. Cowpea also remained at GH¢450.00 and soya beans went for GH¢440.00 per sack.

Beans, however, moved from GH¢1,000 in September/October to GH¢1,200.00 in November, but did not see any change in December, while maize price moved from GH¢480.00 in August to GH¢550.00 this week per sack.

Price of Gari Increases

Gari which is much regarded as an inferior good, increased marginally. A bag of gari moved from GH¢800.00 to GH¢820.00 and groundnut also at GH¢780.00 per sack. Rice recorded a surge in price. Nonetheless, it depended on the brand. It ranged from GH¢280.00, GH¢300.00 and GH¢350.00 per 25kg depending on the brand.

A tuber of yam ranged from GHS 10.00, to GH¢25.00 depending on the size. Cassava also moved from GH¢250.00 to GH¢300.00 per sack this week, depending on the type. Cocoyam also moved from GH¢450.00 in November to GH¢500.00 per sack this week, and a bunch of unripe plantain moved from GH¢60.00 to GH¢80.00 this week.

A carton of fish pegged at GH¢450.00 while a crate of tomatoes also moved from GH¢1,500.00 to GH¢1,700 this week for the local and GH¢1,800.00 to GH¢2,200.00 for the foreign type.

It is however, worth noting that while some traders blamed the trend on scarcity of the foodstuffs, others blamed the incessant hike in fuel prices making transporting of the commodities to the market expensive.

The traders therefore, called on the government to reduce fuel prices and also fix their roads, especially those in the farming communities.