Maame Abena, a tomato seller at the Agbogbloshie market, has revealed that the price increment in tomatoes is not mainly as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Maame Abena emphatically stated that the price of tomatoes are ready high in this season and it is not because of the Covid-19 or the lockdown. This, she told Happy FM’s, Joseph Nii Ankrah’s survey at the market to confirm the Minister for Food and Agriculture’s statement that food prices have not been increased.
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The market woman however complained that prices would have been a little less expensive if not for the huge sums of money they are made to pay at the borders when going for their goods.
She said, “Tomatoes in this season, are already expensive and it is not because of the lockdown, although, they are basing it on the lockdown to take a lot of money from us at the borders”.
“When you are entering, they will demand for GHC220 and when you are leaving, you have to pay another GHC300 making GHC520. If prices are reduced at the border, we will also reduce prices here in Accra”, she added.
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Replying to why the market women do not opt for local tomatoes so that they do not have to pay high demands at the borders, she shared that the local tomatoes are not and will not be ready anytime soon, therefore, they are limited to buying tomatoes from Burkina Faso or from the Northern Region.
By: Maureen Dedei Quaye
