Despite a decrease in the prices of fresh tomatoes, the price of tomato paste is on the rise, indicating a disparity in pricing trends within Ghana’s food market.
Recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveals a reduction in food inflation, which fell from 28.1% in February 2025 to 26.5% in March 2025.
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report indicates that tomato paste experienced the most significant month-on-month price increase of 8.1% among the 25 essential food items in Ghana’s national food basket.
This is noteworthy considering that the overall month-on-month inflation rate for March 2025 was only 0.2%. In contrast, fresh tomatoes experienced a price deflation of 4.9%, indicating lower retail prices.
Other notable price increases in March 2025 included sea-caught fish, which rose by 3.2%, and hotel accommodation, which saw a 2.4% increase.
When examining a broader range of 307 items, regardless of their weight in the inflation calculation, ginger continues to lead in year-on-year price increases, with a remarkable rise of 137.4%. Fresh okra follows with a 94.6% increase, while beans have seen a 75.6% rise over the past year.
