A recent study on food prices in Ghana, conducted by a Consumer Advocacy Centre and Consumer International, has revealed unfair pricing practices leading to financial strain and food insecurity for consumers.
The Fair Food Price Monitor, a tool developed by consumer organizations, highlights the risks of unjust food prices driven by insufficient competition in national and global food supply chains.
The tool, using data from sources like the UN World Food Programme and UN Food and Agriculture Organization, shows that retail and consumer prices for certain food items have risen substantially faster than wholesale or market prices.
This has sparked calls for immediate action to ensure fair pricing, with suggestions including regulating cartels, introducing consumer protection and competition laws, and collaborating with local producers to enhance competitiveness.
The General Agriculture Workers’ Union emphasizes the importance of strong dedication to implementing suggested solutions, echoing concerns raised by the UNCTAD in its 2023 Trade and Development Report about the growing risks to food security and profiteering by corporations.
The Consumer Advocacy Centre urges the government and stakeholders to prioritize addressing these shortcomings urgently.