Prices of food items go up in Tamale

Prices of various foodstuffs sold in most satellite markets and the main Central Market in Tamale have seen a steady increase in November even though farmers are busily engaged on their farms and harvesting fresh produce.

Prices of grains which are staples for the people have also surged in the Aboaba, Lamashegu, and the Tamale Central Markets over one month.

A bowl of maize which sold for GH¢7.00 is now going for GH¢9.00 and a bowl of beans moved from GH¢15.00 and GH¢18.00 to GH¢20.00 and Gh¢28.00, depending on the grain size.

The increment has affected vegetables as well, making a large size tomato tin of fresh tomatoes selling at GH¢15.00 instead of GH¢10.00.

Millet, which used to be GH¢8 per bowl now sells at GH¢12.00 per bowl and a bowl of gari now sells at GH¢15.00, from GH¢12.00.

The prices have affected both locally produced food items and imported ones.

The price of 4.5 litre frytol cooking oil has increased from GH¢58.00 to GH¢65.00.

A 50 Kg bag of sugar, which was sold at GH¢220.00 in October, now sells at GH¢250.00 and a 5Kg bag of Cindy rice which went for GH¢36.00 now sells at GH¢45.00.

Some of the traders the GNA spoke to attributed the price hikes on maize to competition from exporters from Burkina Faso and Togo, poultry farmers, and those buying to store and sell later during the lean season.

A provision shop attendant, at the Lamashegu market, who pleaded anonymity, said sugar sales had gone low due to the price increment.

Prices of tubers of yam however have remained unchanged within the period, as three paired large size of tubers of yam goes for GH¢20.00, while three paired medium size tubers of yam now sell for GH¢15.00.

GNA