The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is lamenting the rising food prices and shrinkflation afflicting ordinary Ghanaians.
According to the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP, the prices of some food items in Ghana have soared by as much as 140%.
In a welcome address to Members of Parliament who resumed from their recess on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Dr Ato Forson highlighted the widespread issue of “food shrinkflation,” where vendors maintain prices but reduce portion sizes.
“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.”
Expressing the severity of the situation, he added, “Mr Speaker, kurom ay3 hye. Times are very hard! Ghanaians are suffering!”
Dr Forson referenced a March 2024 report from the World Food Programme, revealing that more than one million Ghanaians are at risk of food insecurity due to escalating food prices.
“The projections and statistics on the food situation in Ghana are grim. According to a World Food Programme report for March 2024, more than one million Ghanaians are likely to face food insecurity between now and August this year because of rising food prices.”
He further detailed, “In just one week, the price of a sack of onions jumped from GHS600 to GHS1050, nearly a 100% increase. A sack of kokonte, which was GHS900 in December 2023, now sells for GHS1,100, a 22.2% increase in five months. A tuber of yam, previously GHS25 in December 2023, now costs GHS30, representing a 20% increase. Additionally, a 5kg bag of rice has risen from GHS170 to GHS185, approximately a 9% increase.”
Dr. Forson questioned the efficacy of the government’s “Planting for Food and Jobs” programme, asking, “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.
