E/R: PFJ market fails to meet expectations ahead of Christmas

The Planting for Food and Job Market failed to meet the expectation of Koforidua residents after the first day of the Eastern Regional Satellite Market.

Officials failed to convey enough produce to the designated venue, forcing them to close early at the frustration of potential buyers.

The Planting for Food and Job Eastern Regional Series began at 7:00am and lasted hours.

Before midday, the venue for the market was empty as officials failed to bring enough produce.

While some feel the initiative would compete with those in the market square to force them reduce prices, others feel the difference in prices is marginal and not impactful to soften the current economic hardship they face.

Plantain was sold for GH¢15, GH¢25 and GH¢50, almost the same price as the open market.

Consumers, both government workers and others who are not government workers could buy from the market.

But many were disappointed.

“I got here after 9:00am,” said one, “I didn’t get any plantain to buy. I was told what was brought in two trucks got finished. This is really disappointing. How could they do this?”

Another said, “I bought a tuber of plantain at GH¢15 but I could get some for same price at Agartha market during market days. So it’s really not cheap. It should have been sold at GH¢10, we would have appreciated it the more.”

The Planting of Food for Jobs Satellite Market was introduced to stop market women from high pricing of foodstuff.

The market women claim they are not to be blamed but the farmers.

“We cannot be blamed for the high cost of produce and foodstuff. The government should rather subsidise fertilizers and make it available for farmers. With that, we can buy at an affordable price and sell cheaply.”

Christmas festivities would be celebrated in days away, and residents are hoping prices of foodstuff and goods would be lower than months ago regardless of Eastern Region being the region with the high inflation rate.

“The cost of foodstuff should reduce so that we can enjoy the Christmas too. Things are still costly.”