Director of Economic Statistics at the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Francis Bright Mensah, has stated that changes in food prices impact the overall inflation rate.
He explained that the GSS sends teams to 57 markets nationwide monthly to track price changes of 307 items, calculating inflation rates by comparing data to the previous month or year.
In an interview on the Angel Morning Show (AMS) on Friday, November 7, 2025, Mr. Mensah mentioned that out of the 307 items whose prices are checked in the market, 103 are food items, which account for about 47% of the inflation basket, noting that any price change significantly affects inflation.
“Assuming in September tomatoes were priced at 10 cedis, but in October they were sold for 12 cedis, the 2 cedis difference can move food inflation higher if tomatoes have a high weight in the food basket,” he added.
He further said that increases in the prices of food items depend on factors such as market locations, transportation, and the storage of food items.
“Someone will prefer to buy tomatoes at a supermarket, which is expensive, while others will opt for markets like Makola and get it cheaper,” Mr. Mensah said.
Mr. Mensah added that increase in fuel prices lead to rise in transport fares, which also affects the prices of foodstuffs, as some sellers add their transport costs to the price of goods.
Contributor; Salamatu Adama
