Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness has announced plans to introduce a price comparison mobile application aimed at improving price transparency in markets and protecting consumers, as the government rules out price controls.
Speaking at Meet the Press series in Accra on 21 January 2026, the sector minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the initiative was designed to encourage competition among traders while avoiding the unintended consequences associated with price regulation.
She said price controls often lead to market distortions, including hoarding and artificial price increases.
“We can’t do price control because price control comes with its own negative effects,” Mrs Ofosu-Adjare added. “It gives way to hoarding, and prices will rather escalate.”
The Minister also noted that, the ministry plans to rely on transparency through technology. Under the proposed system, traders across the country would publish the prices of their goods on a digital platform, allowing consumers to compare costs before making a purchase.
“Every shop will advertise their price, and then you decide where to buy from,” the Minister explained. “If I’m selling an item at 1,000 cedis and someone else is selling the same item at 200 cedis, the buyer will decide whether to pay more or choose the cheaper option.”
She stressed that the government would not fix prices but would empower consumers to make informed choices. “We will not control prices; we will make prices available for people to choose from,” she added.
The planned mobile application will list product prices from various dealers nationwide, giving buyers access to competitive rates and encouraging fair pricing across markets.
The initiative comes amid concerns over the cost of living and calls from consumer groups for stronger measures to address price disparities in Ghana’s retail sector.
