Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) one of Government’s Agriculture policies is a good initiative and we have no doubt it is making massive strides in Ghana’s food security measure.
Citizens for Change and Accountable Governance is uncomfortable with the claim by Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto that, food is cheap in Ghana despite the outbreak of the novel Corona virus in the country.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said “The hike in food prices, I think we all recognize that only four years ago, a bunch of plantains, you had to spend GHS40 but now with GHS3 to GHS6, you can get a bunch of plantains. It shows you clearly that we have come to reduce prices of food even in the major cities like Accra where there is substantial rushes in the markets. Most families who could not afford one meal a day can now afford three meals a day because food is so cheap and we will continue to ensure that planting for food and jobs will deliver even more food to areas of consumption to makes lives very easy for families in consuming areas”.
Our market survey on the price of bunch of Plantain suggests the following details:
(The market price research/survey was made by CCAG on Friday 24th April, 2020)
Market Price District/City/Town Region
Baatsona
Trade Fair 60.00 LEKMA Greater Accra
Makola Market 60.00 Accra Greater Accra
Bekwai Central 70.00 Amansie East Ashanti
Tema C.1 35.00 Tema Central Greater Accra
Ashaiman Market 45.00 Ashaiman
Ayimesu Market 25.00 Upper Manya Eastern
Kotokuraba Market 45.00 Cape Coast Central
Takoradi Market 50.00 Takoradi Western
Kejetia 40.00 Kumasi Ashanti
Bantama 40.00 Kumasi Ashanti
Tamale Central 25.00 Tamale Northern
Kintampo Market 30.00 Kintampo Bono East
Asankragua Market 15.00 Amenfi West Municipal Western
The Minister further stated that “In any case, we are talking about three million producers of farm produce, hundreds of thousands of traders, small and large, and in the market, you see the teeming numbers of market women and men. So how do you go about controlling prices? I think that an open pricing system that this government is following shows the kind of confidence that we have that we will able to supply food to the markets for consumers at a very reasonable price and this is what is happening. I don’t think anybody can complain in this country that that food is expensive”.
From the data we have collected and evidence on the grounds, it is obvious the Minister in Charge of Ghana’s Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is been evasive and economical with real facts on the grounds.
The statement is not only a cheap propaganda at a very unfortunate period where the world (Ghana) is battling COVID-19 but an intellectual dishonesty and insult to Citizens of the Republic.
We demand immediate retraction and unqualified apology.
It is okay to dispel fears by Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) that, there may be shortage of goods (food) in Ghana by May 2020 following the spread of the deadly corona virus but it is very unfortunate to address the Republic in a press briefing and state categorically that food prices (plantain) are very cheap.
*Kofi Asante Mensah*
*Executive Director*
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