Western North Region Tops Ghana's Food Price Index, GSS Report Reveals

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has released its second Food Price Variability report, shedding light on the significant disparities in food prices across the country. The report, which tracked prices of 10 food items from January 2023 to February 2024, found that the Western North Region had the highest median prices for 6 out of the 10 items, making it the most expensive region for food in Ghana.

The GSS collected data on 307 items from all 16 regions, standardizing units of measurement to either kilogram or liter for accurate comparisons. The report revealed that price variations were more prominent within regions rather than between them, suggesting that consumers could save money by shopping around locally.

According to the report, unprocessed local food items such as fresh tomatoes, yam, and garden eggs experienced steeper price increases compared to processed local foods. Imported food items saw more than double the price changes compared to locally produced ones, highlighting the potential benefits of consuming local produce.

Why this matters: The GSS report provides crucial insights into regional food price variability, which is essential information for policymakers and consumers alike. The findings underscore the importance of regular price assessments at the regional level to support informed decision-making and policy formulation.

The report also found significant price variations across other regions. The Ahafo region had the highest median price for beef, bread, and tomato paste, while the Greater Accra Region topped the list for imported rice. The Oti region had the highest median price for cooking oil.

The GSS suggested that standardized packaging could lead to less price variation across regions, implying that goods with consistent measurements and labeling might offer more predictable pricing throughout the country. "The report shows that there is a need for regular assessment of regional price variability to support policymaking at the regional level," stated a GSS spokesperson.

The GSS Food Price Variability report, which covered the period from January 2023 to February 2024, provides valuable data on food price differences across Ghana's 16 regions. The Western North Region emerged as the most expensive for food, with the highest median prices for 6 out of the 10 tracked items. The report also highlighted the steeper price increases for unprocessed local foods and imported items compared to processed local products. The GSS emphasized the importance of regular regional price assessments to support informed policymaking and consumer decision-making.

Key Takeaways

• Western North region most expensive for food in Ghana, highest prices for 6 of 10 items
• Price variations more prominent within regions than between, consumers can save by shopping locally
• Unprocessed local foods and imported items saw steeper price increases than processed local foods
• Standardized packaging could lead to less price variation across regions
• Regular regional price assessments crucial for policymaking and consumer decision-making