General Secretary of the Ghana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Edward Karewah, has cautioned that the recent surge in food prices across the country is likely to persist until the arrival of the harvest season in June 2024.
Speaking to Joy Business in an interview, Karewah emphasized that the ongoing inflation in food prices, which saw a consecutive six-month increase to 27.1% in January 2024, is directly linked to the lean season of production. He explained that until crops such as maize and rice are harvested, the availability of fresh produce will remain limited.
“The price of food will not get better anytime soon,” Karewah stated. “We are entering into or are already in the lean season of production, and no part of the country is experiencing a harvest of foodstuff, particularly the major staples.”
He pointed out that the lack of rainfall in various regions has hindered farming activities, leading to a reliance on last year’s crops. Karewah noted that while farms are preparing for the upcoming planting season, the current supply of food remains largely unchanged.
“During this season, all the foodstuff we are eating is from last year. So don’t expect food prices to come down now,” he cautioned. “We expect that by the middle to the end of March [2024], food prices will go up and stay high like that until we begin to harvest around June/July in the Southern parts of the country.”
Meanwhile, recent inflation figures revealed that several divisions recorded rates higher than the national average. These include Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics (38.5%), Personal Care, Social Protection, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (32.0%), and Restaurants and Accommodation Services (29.2%).
Other divisions with above-average inflation rates include Furnishings, Household Equipment, and Routine Household Maintenance (27.7%), Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (27.1%), Health (26.6%), and Recreation, Sports, and Culture (24.9%).
As Ghanaians grapple with the impact of rising food prices, Karewah’s warning underscores the urgent need for measures to address the challenges faced by the agricultural sector and ensure food security for the nation.