Yam traders at the Kokomba market have raised concerns about the sharp increase in yam prices, lamenting that the situation is putting a strain on their livelihoods.
They urged the government to implement measures to address the situation.
At the Kokomba yam market, a typical day sees young men unloading yams from trucks arriving from the north, while young women carry purchased yams in pans for traders and consumers.
Despite the organised display of yams sorted by size and type, the traders appear disheartened.
Jabil Yookum, a 20-year veteran in the yam trade, said prices have skyrocketed. She notes that a bag of yams previously priced at GHC1,000 in 2023, now costs GHC3,000.
“A hundred pieces of yam now cost between GHC3,000 and GHC4,000, the prices have really sky-rocketed. This year, prices have gone up.”
While some of the traders point to changing weather patterns as the primary cause. Others attribute the increase to rising petroleum prices, which have driven up transportation costs.
One of the traders, Madam Jane, also lamented that her daily sales have plummeted as customers are no longer buying yams as frequently due to the price hikes.
Feeling the pinch of increased costs, Rosina Amponsah, who visited the Kokomba yam market to purchase tubes for sale, expressed concern that she might be forced to stop selling fried yam altogether.
Despite these challenges, traders and consumers at the Kokomba yam market remain hopeful.
They anticipate that several factors including the onset of rains and the reduction of fuel prices could help alleviate the current situation
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