Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has raised concerns over the accuracy of recent food price and inflation data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Acheampong questioned the data collection methods of the GSS, suggesting their findings on rising food prices were inconsistent with his Ministry’s data.
“I don’t know where Statistical Service collected their data from,” he remarked, adding that his Ministry tracks farm gate prices for 22 key commodities daily.
According to the Minister, while maize prices have increased due to a dry spell, the costs of other staples, including plantain, tomatoes, onions, and cassava, have dropped significantly.
“Plantain has dropped by 27%, tomatoes by 30%, onions by 11%, and cassava by 13%,” he noted.
Acheampong refuted claims that food prices were spiralling, asserting that only maize prices have seen a notable rise, while other food items have become more affordable across markets in the country.
Acheampong further critiqued the way inflation figures were presented by the GSS, stating that their year-on-year comparison between September 2023 and September 2024 did not reflect the recent downward trend in food prices.
He emphasized that, despite challenges posed by weather conditions, the Ministry’s data showed a stabilisation of prices in most food categories, saying, “From January to date, the price of food is going down.”
The Minister reiterated his commitment to providing accurate and up-to-date data on the country’s food systems.
