The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has lamented the high prices of food stuff on the market, with some increasing as high as 140%.
He said this has resulted in food vendors resorting to reducing the sizes of their wares in order to keep the prices stable.
“Hon. Speaker, high food prices are not the only challenge facing Ghanaians but food shrinkflation, where food vendors maintain their prices but reduce the quantity or the size of their portions, is also the order of the day.
“I am sure those of you who have bought Ga Kenkey or Nkran dokon lately, will appreciate the food shrinkflation that I am talking about,” he said in Parliament on June 11 while welcoming his colleagues from recess.
“Mr Speaker, kurom ay3 hye. Times are very hard! Ghanaians are suffering!” he added.
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Dr Forson quoted the World Food Programme report for March 2024, which revealed that more than one million Ghanaians are likely to face food insecurity between now and August this year because of rising food prices.
According to the MP, “the price of a bucket of tomatoes which was sold at GHS75 at the beginning of this year, now sells at GHS180, an increase of 140%.
“The price of a crate of tomatoes increased by more than 360% between January and June this year when the price increased from GHS1,500 to GHS7,000
“In a matter of one week, the price of a sack of onions jumped from GHS600 to GHS1050, an increase of nearly 100%,” he lamented.
Dr forson added that, “1 sack of kokonte which was sold for GHS900 in December 2023, now sells at GHS1,100. This means in just five months, the price of kokonte has gone up by 22.2%.
“A tuber of yam which was sold for GHS25 in December 2023 is now going for GHS30. This represents 20% increase in the price. A 5kg bag of rice which sold for GHS170 in December 2023 now goes for GHS185. This means the price has gone up by approximately 9%.”
“Mr Speaker, I am curious. What has happened to the billions of Ghana Cedis approved by this house for the government’s so-called flagship programme, planting for food and jobs? Where is the food? And where are the jobs? Were they planting for high food prices and joblessness? Mr Speaker, we are back! Trust us, the NDC minority caucus, to protect the interest of the people of Ghana,”he assured.
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