Ginger leads food inflation spike with 114% price increase

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Ghanaian households continue to face the pressure of escalating food costs, even as the overall inflation rate eased slightly in January.

The Ghana Statistical Service’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) highlights a worrying surge in the cost of staple foods, with some items recording price hikes exceeding 50%.

Leading the inflationary trend is ginger, whose price has skyrocketed by 114.4%, making it the most inflated food item in the country.

Beans, a critical protein source, saw an 84.6% year-on-year increase, while dried pepper, okro, and onions surged by 82.1% and 79.6%, respectively.

Yam prices jumped by 72.9%, with cocoyam leaves trailing closely at 59.3%. Citrus fruits like lime also saw significant inflation, rising by 58.4%, rounding out the top ten most impacted food items.

This relentless rise in food costs continues to stretch household budgets, reflecting the broader pressures on Ghana’s economy.

These sharp increases in food prices highlight significant national and household-level economic challenges.

The GSS report provides a sobering look into the ongoing pressures on Ghana’s cost of living, with food inflation leading the charge.

As the government and consumers alike hope for price stabilisation in the coming months, many households will continue to grapple with the impact of inflation.

While cautious optimism remains for early February, the lingering inflationary pressures may present challenges for the months ahead