Aside from the price hikes, the staple food in most homes is also becoming scarce according to the traders in the Sekondi Central Market.

Mena Aba Takyiewa, a cereal dealer, said a cup of the local rice sold at GH¢ 3.00 was now GH¢8.00 with the three-kilogramme (kg) bag selling at GH¢40 instead of GH¢24.

Mama Theresa, a well-known local rice dealer, complained about the hike in prices and shortage of the commodity.

“We know that rice and gari are for every­body, especially the average home and today it’s difficult to buy these staples, even local rice …why and how, I have even decided to stop and look for something else to trade in”.

She, therefore, entreated rice farmers and the government to help reduce prices and en­sure continuous supply to boost the local rice industry and feed the many average households whose livelihoods depended on rice and gari.

The situation was not different at the New Takoradi market, traders in the area had urged the government to keep the dollar and CFA franc at a stabilised condition to ensure that goods and services were within the economy.

They also entreated the government on the need for fuel prices to come down to ensure that goods from remote areas were transported at reduced prices to enable the average Ghana­ian to make a purchase.

Miss Esther Asare, a consumer, complained bitterly about the cost of food items in the market saying, A tuber of yam which was sold for GH¢5 is now between GH¢15 and GH¢ 20. “No family can just feed on a tuber of yam, which means that we have to spend more money and where is the money?”

Madam Comfort Pra, a fruit dealer in the market, lamented about the cost of fruits and vegetables such as onions, pepper, oranges which prices have increased due to high infla­tion of dollar.

She noted that a basket of apples which was GH¢300 last year is now GH¢450 and pleaded that the government should pity them and help stabilise the cedi against the CFA and dollar.

Madam Matilda Boateng, a cloth seller and utensils dealer, said prices of her commodities had tripled due to the dollar and CFA rates and asked the government to redeem the falling cedi.

“We plead with the government to do some­thing about the dollar and CFA rate to save body and soul of the average Ghanaian “.

Mr Patrick Yalley, who sells latex foams, was shocked at how prices had increased in two weeks and called for subsidies on fuel to reduce the current economic challenges.