By Enock Akonnor, enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
Bakers in Kumasi will soon petition the Ministry of Trade over the weekly surging of prices of flour in Ghana, www.leakynews.net has been reliably informed.
Intel gathered by this medium has it that they are through with their plans on staging a massive demonstration in Kumasi against government and local producing companies of flour; an action that will precede the former.
Executives of Ashanti Bakers Association have confirmed the duo and reasons given are that; the spiraling inflation characterized by the sporadic increase in the prices of flour, margarine, sugar etc. needed for the production of bread has imposed an unbearable pressure on their business.
Majority of Bakers in Ashanti region and Ghana as a whole according to the executives have been knocked out of business since they cannot afford the present production cost caused by what they have described as an insane increment.
From the year 2016 and before the wake of COVID-19, price of a bag of flour was sold in Ghana at GHs 120.
It shot up to GHs 160 in 2021, jumping to GHs 200 within the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Consequent to the Cedi-dollar inflation, it climbed to GHs 400.
Within the following 2 weeks, it again shot up abnormally to GHs 500 and then to GHs 570 in the next 2 weeks.
It skyrocketed to the current price which is GHs 680 within another two weeks.
“Last month the price of margarine was GHs 580 but currently it is sold at 750”, a baker.
Speaking exclusively to www.leakynews.net, Financial Secretary for the association Isaac Agyemang lamented that the price of a bag of flour has been subjected to a weekly inflation by local producers.
“Every week they increase the price of a bag of flour and even as I speak to you now, a bag is sold at GHs 680”, he said in a mournful tone.
“However, price of those imported from Cote d’Ivoire is sold in Ghana around GHs 400 and those sold in Cotevoire is pegged around GHs 300.”, a Baker called Matilda Annor told this medium.
On a much sad note, she mentioned that bakers are barred by custom officials from purchasing the ones imported from Cote d’Ivoire on the pretest that importers smuggled them into the country.
Executives of the association are of the suspension that, giant manufacturing companies namely Olam Company, Flour Mills of Ghana, Irani Brothers and Takoradi Flour Mills are behind the “mafia” game played out against them and have therefore called on government to address the issue.
She noted that if the matter is not addressed, they will have no option to stage a nationwide strike or push up the prices of bread.
“We will not be bothered selling a loaf of bread at GHs 50 in Ghana”, she roared.
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