Accra: Consumers are expressing concern over the increasing cost of ginger on the market and are calling on stakeholders, particularly farmers, to expand cultivation to ensure affordability and steady supply. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Friday, some consumers questioned why ginger prices continued to rise despite the crop being widely cultivable in Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, at the Tema Station, Awula Naa, a spice trader, said she could no longer sell ginger in small quantities such as GHC5.00 because a bucketful now costed her GHC1,500. Ginger is now sold at GHC10.00, GHC20.00, and GHC50.00 portions. She mentioned that many buyers complained about both the quantity and prices, forcing some consumers to opt for the already packaged ginger products on the market.
Ms. Josy Larbi, a journalist, recounted her experience of being unable to buy enough ginger to add to her stew ingredients last week due to the high prices. She explained that three small pieces of ginger were being sold for GHC10.00, prompting her to ask her younger sister to purchase GHC5.00 worth from a nearby shop instead. The quantity received was disappointingly small, leading her to consider the pre-packaged options available in the market.
Similarly, Ama Darkoa, a beautician, expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, stating she bought GHC20.00 worth of ginger to prepare pepper sauce, known as shito, but received only a small quantity. When she questioned the seller, she was informed that ginger prices continued to increase.
Aisha Mohammed, a waakye seller at the Tema Station, shared her struggles with the GNA, explaining that it had become difficult to buy the necessary quantity of ginger needed to prepare shito for her customers, forcing her to manage with whatever quantity she could afford.
Ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale, is a rhizome that has been used for thousands of years to treat nausea, indigestion, and inflammation. It is also known for its antioxidant properties and pain-relieving benefits. In Ghana, both fresh and dried ginger are widely used in the preparation of soups, stews, tea, beverages, and baked products.