Speaking on People’s Forum, a segment on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Thursday, sellers said they are often blamed by buyers for the steep prices, but they insist the root cause lies in the escalating costs at the wholesale level.

“The prices are always increasing, and buyers think it’s from us, but it’s not our fault,” one seller explained.

A fish seller noted that a box of fish, which previously cost GH¢700, has now surged to GH¢920, highlighting the worsening state of the market.

Another seller attributed the fluctuations to the rising cost of fuel, citing that a bag of tomatoes is now priced at GH¢1,700 despite being in season, and onions at GH¢1,800 per bag.

“Initially, a box of fish was 700 cedis, but now it has increased to 920 cedis. The market conditions are tough. I believe it’s due to the high petrol prices, causing the prices to fluctuate. Now a bag of tomatoes costs 1700 cedis, even though it’s the tomato season. It’s still expensive. A bag of onions is now 1800 cedis.”

The traders further are called on authorities to regulate and stabilize prices, as the current situation is severely affecting their businesses and livelihoods.

“We need the authorities to monitor or regulate the pricing as it’s severely affecting us,” they urged.

Watch the video below:

READ ALSO:

• Ghana ranks 8th in Africa for economic stability and investment climate – RMB Report 2024
• Inflation continues downward trend, reaches 20.9% in July
• Deloitte commends govt’s decision to maintain tax levels

Source: Faridatu Seidu

Speaking on People’s Forum, a segment on Adom FM Dwaso Nsem, a mother of two of the deceased children said that she sent her children to school that morning.

According to her, one of her children died because there was no doctor to administer care upon arrival at the hospital.

“On Wednesday morning I personally sent my children to school. I went fishing. I panicked when I realised that they were running late from school. A neighbour shouted that a canoe with children has capsised,” she narrated.

“My child and my sister’s child were retrieved and we rushed them down to the hospital. Upon arrival, they confirmed that one of the children was not breathing. My child was not attended to because there was no doctor and was later confirmed dead.

“I wept, and returned home only to find out the lifeless body of my second child had been retrieved. Their bodies were later moved to the mortuary,” she tearfully recounted.

Mothers of nine-year-olds, two-year-olds and 12-year-olds could not hold back their tears after reliving how they saw the bodies of the children after returning from work.

Another mother of a three-year-old victim and a 13-year survivor said her daughter made it through only because someone came to her rescue.

Nine out of 12 children drowned after a canoe peddled by a 12-year-old capsised.

The burial service for the nine schoolchildren was held on Sunday, May 14, 2023.

ALSO READ:

Provide boats, life jackets for learners who travel on water – Report on the…

Are you bothered about lives of citizens? Lawyer hits at govt after Weija boat…

Bortianor-Faana boat disaster: Parental negligence to blame

The traders, who can barely make ends meet, said they have now adopted the hand-to-mouth strategy to survive.

Some of them, who shared their frustration on The People’s Forum, a segment on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, said their sales have dwindled in the past months.

They blamed the situation on the cedi depreciation against the dollar which has triggered daily increase of goods in the market.

Their only prayer is to get something small from sales to feed their family.

Some commercial drivers also complained about the incessant increase in fuel prices which they say is affecting their business.

“We use all the money to buy fuel so it is like we are working for the filling stations,” a taxi driver bemoaned.

Another worrying situation, the driver said is the harassment from the police and taskforce from the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly.

Secretary of the Nii Boi Town Trotro Drivers Association, Mohammed Mutawakilu, claimed the drivers arrested at the Achimota overhead paid spot fine of GH¢200.

The situation, he noted, is a major headache for drivers who ply that route since there is no bus stop to drop or pick passengers.

Mohammed Mutawakilu said they are lacing their boots to stage a massive demonstration against police at Achimota and the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly if they are not called to order.