Traders at Ashaiman markets are optimistic of the fall in the prices of staple foods in February this year. A Ghana News Agency weekly market survey revealed that commodity prices were unchanged at Ashaiman market.
Madam Akua Marfo told the GNA that yam is currently expensive because it is out of season adding that, “the time will come when the prices will fall”. She however added that, the price of a yam was between GHC5.00 and GHC10.00 depending on its size instead of the previous price of GHC4.00; an Olonka of Gari which used to be sold at GHC7.00 has dropped to GHC5.00.
Hajia Zalifa Mohammed, a cereal and grain trader told GNA that, “I fear the prices might increase any moment due to the change in the economic front which has affected the conveying of goods from the hinterlands”.A bag of onions which used to be sold at GHC250.00 is now GHC300.00 and GHC350.00 depending on their sizes whilst a paint rubber size of big onions is sold at GHC20.00 and the smaller onions sold at GHC10.00.
A sack of millet is sold between GHC300.00 to GHC350.00 whereas an Olonka is GHC7.00; a sack of beans goes for GHC350.00 and GHC10.00 per Olonka; Maize is sold at GHC270.00 per sack and GHC5.00 per Olonka; and local rice is sold at GHC150.00 per sack whereas perfume rice is sold between GHC250.00 and GHC300.00 per sack.
Miss Daina Ayeta, a trader at the Ashaiman market said, some customers complain about the increase in prices in maize and cassava dough.A sack of cassava dough has increased to GHC65.00 instead of the previous price of GHC60.00 whereas an ‘’Olonka’’ is sold at GHC5.00.
She said groundnut paste which was sold at GHC60.00 per bucket is now sold at GHC70.00.
Madam Mary Ampofo, a plantain trader however stated that, plantain is in abundance and less expensive due to the harmattan season and noted that there have been no complaints from customers about the price of plantain.
She added that, one can buy bunch of plantain at GHC50.00, and ten fingers for GHC5.00.
Other markets visited includes; the Tudu, Tema Station, Dansoman, Odorkor, Achimota, Madina, Nungua, Tuesday Market, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Agbogbloshie, Kantamanto, Makola, and CMB