Traders at Malam Atta Market lament high cost of foodstuff

The Food Price Variability Report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) released in April 2024, estimated the cost of food prices with over 100% increment on food items this year.

This clearly shows that the food prices have been rising significantly. At the Mallam Atta market, one of Accra’s bustling market squares, 3news.com engaged with the traders at the market to compare the current prices of foodstuffs with their prices from a few months ago.

The women who trade in onions shared their frustrations and heartbreaks as they are bound to make significant losses in their line of business due to the many factors beyond their control.

The challenges they face from the galloping prices seem unending. Akosua, one of the market traders in the sale of onions expressed her dissatisfaction in 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.” She explained.

Another onion trader expressed her disappointment in the rapid increase.

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

While some traders are bitterly lamenting their losses, other traders are steadily recovering and regaining their footing.

Within a span of a year, the price of major vegetables especially Garden eggs has tripled with the highest percentage change of 150% in the price.

However, from the narration of these market women, they have experienced some differences in prices due to the times and seasons.

“In the past months, a sack of garden eggs used to sell for GHC2,200 but it is now GHC1,500. We used to sell four garden eggs for GHC20, but it is now GHC10,” a garden eggs seller explains.

“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.

“The price of plantain has increased because it is out of season. Sometime ago, the price was between GHC40 to GHC50, but it is now around GHC80 and GHC100. It will be in abundance and cheaper in August.

Some others also explained the many factors that cause the fluctuation of the prices of the foodstuffs. They attributed the cause to how these foodstuffs go in and out of season and also the fault of wholesalers who increase the prices as a result of high transportation cost.

They therefore pleaded with the government to implement some measures to preserve the foods when they are in abundance.

“Pepper for instance can be dried. This will cater for the fluctuation of the prices.” A pepper seller asserted.

But the question still lingers, will over one million Ghanaians as estimated by the World Food Programme truly face food insecurity even with the current turn of events, or things will change for the better?

By Sarfoa Boahene