The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has expressed concern about consumers having to pay more for food now that prices have drastically reduced.
Dr. Acheampong had earlier stated that food prices in the country had significantly decreased within the last few months.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on the sidelines of the Agric Fair at the premises of the Ministry, Dr. Acheampong noted that prices of food products have decreased. However, consumers still pay high prices in some instances because of profiteering by middlemen.
“We have been able to bring the price of maize down by 50%. And it is not just maize. Regarding many cereals, the prices are dropping. Maize that used to sell at the same time last year for GH¢300 for a 50kg bag is now GH¢148. The maximum you get is GH¢150, which means there is a 50% drop in the price of maize.”
In an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM on Tuesday, Dr. Acheampong stressed that “All in all, most of the foods that we consume have seen price reductions. The price of plantain has dropped at the farm gates, the prices of cassava have dropped at the farm gates, yet we are not seeing these price drops on our table, and that is a source of concern.”
However, Isaac Awuzah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Greater Accra chapter of the Poultry Farmers Association, said they bought maize from their suppliers at either GH¢245 or GH¢255.
He, therefore, said, “it is not normal, and that is why we would be glad if the minister can help us get it from the farm gates.”
