In the Ashanti city of Kumasi, the cost of gari has jumped by 20%.
The gari “olonka,” which was formerly sold for GH18, has been raised to GH20, and the price of a bag of the product has increased from GH370 to GH420.
Elisha Adarkwah, the Ashanti Regional Correspondent for Class FM, was informed by several of the dealers that the retail price had increased as a result of price changes made by the suppliers.
“The bag was GH380, now it’s GH420,” a merchant stated.
“First the olanka was 18, now it’s 20, 22. Now because of the increment, you can sell it at any price. Now people are not buying, when you tell the buyer the price and they look at their money they just walk away.”
Another trader stated: “Even the rubber for selling the gari was 70 pesewas, now it’s 1.5 pesewas for one. The market is slow, and we don’t make much profit because of the increment.”
A third trader appealed for something to be done about the economy to enable them to make profits when they sell.
“Because there’s no money, the person can’t buy so sometimes we consider the buyer and sell if for GH¢17, but you won’t make your profit because of the price at which we bought it.
“We appeal to them to do something about it for us,” the trader said.