Thomas Ayertey of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has blamed excessive profit-making by traders for the rising prices of foodstuffs in Ghana, arguing that some pricing practices are worsening the economic difficulties faced by consumers.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Ebaanosen, hosted by Ohene Kinnah, Mr Ayertey said the issue extended beyond poultry to other food commodities, following remarks by Deputy Minister for Agriculture John Matthew Kofi Setor Dumelo that farmers sell their produce cheaply to middlemen, who subsequently resell them at significantly higher prices.
Mr Ayertey questioned why traders purchase chickens at relatively low prices but sell them at substantially higher rates, describing such practices as a sign of insufficient consideration for the welfare of fellow Ghanaians.
According to him, the pursuit of excessive profits by some traders contributes to business stagnation and places additional financial pressure on consumers already struggling with the high cost of living.
He cited the example of a crate of eggs purchased for GH¢80 and resold for GH¢200, arguing that the substantial price difference illustrates how some trading practices contribute to rising food prices.
Mr Ayertey maintained that the government should not bear the entire blame for the economic hardship in the country, insisting that traders also have a responsibility to adopt fair pricing practices to make food more affordable.
He called attention to the role of traders in determining the final prices of food commodities, suggesting that addressing excessive mark-ups could help ease the burden on consumers.
By: Patience Amonoo
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