Cereal sellers in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region are lamenting over a situation they describe as the increasingly high cost of maize produce amidst shortage in its supply which could lead to a possible famine in the Municipality; if not checked.
According to them, the price per bag of maize has consistently witnessed a marginal increment on each market-day with the current price ranging between Ghc170.00 and Ghc180.00 as compared to the same period last year when it was pegged at Ghc100.00.
A1 Radio’s interaction with some of the market women revealed the following:
“On Friday, 11 December 2020, I went to Walewale market to buy maize but was told by my suppliers that there was none to supply. In fact, they told me some people came from Burkina Faso to place orders with increased prices and that they were yet to meet their orders. So, I came home with just a few bags of maize, now imagine how much I will have to sell and also make profits.” A seller in Bolgatanga market narrated.
Another seller said “Last year, things were different, for instance, we used to sell a bag of maize at Ghc100.00 but now we are forced to sell between Ghc170.00 and Ghc180.00. Even as I’m speaking, next market day a bag of maize could be increased to Ghc190.00. Ask yourself; where are we going with this trend? All we want as sellers of cereal in Bolga, is for stakeholders to either block buyers from Burkina Faso from coming to buy maize or device other means of saving the situation.”
Some customers who were present at the time this reporter visited the Bolgatanga cereal market, told A1 Radio that coping with the situation has become a big challenge for them to bear.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a brewery company was recently opened in neighboring Burkina Faso and uses maize as raw material for its production; the reason for the increased demand for maize and its corresponding increase in price; hence the shortage.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Moses Apiah|Ghana
