Price of tomatoes increases in Cape Coast – Survey

A market survey conducted in the Cape Coast Metropolis by the GNA has shown a significant rise in the prices of vegetables and other fresh foods, especially tomatoes and onion compared to the same period last month.

Among the vegetables in the market, tomatoes have the highest price.

A box of tomatoes which sold at GHC 450.00, about a month ago is now going for GHC 600.00, while a small paint container of tomatoes has gone up from GHC25.00 to GHC 35.00.

Additionally, a mini bag of onion has risen from GHC300.00 to GHC350.00 while a tin tomato container sold at GHC20.00 is now going for GHC25.00.

This, according to traders at the Kotokuraba market was due to the unstable weather conditions and the cost of transportation.

They told the GNA in a random interview that, the situation has led to a reduction in patronage as patrons preferred tin tomatoes to the fresh tomatoes.

However, the prices of garden eggs, cereals and grains were relatively stable.

Madam Efua Pokua, a trader at the Kotokuraba Market, feared that their prices might also go up adding that “I will not be surprise should prices of cereal and grains also increase”.

She said it was possible for the prices of garden eggs, cereals and grains to go up as a result of high transport fares.

“Times are hard in this country, there has been fuel price increase which has made the cost of transporting the goods from the producers to the market very high,” she added

Meanwhile plantain, cocoyam and yam have seen significant reduction in prices.

Four fingers of plantain which used to sell at GHC5.00 depending on the size, is now pegged at  GHC3.00, while a tuber of  yam has reduced from GHC10.00 to GHC7.00 and the “olonka” of cocoyam is now selling at GHC7.00 instead of  GHC10.00 sold previously.

Source: GNA