Annual consumer price inflation in Ghana jumped to 10.6% in April from 7.8% the month
previous year, due to the increase in food prices in the areas affected by the
closures ordered by the government following the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the office of
statistics.
A rise in inflation, mainly following the rise in non-food and beverage products
alcoholic beverages whose prices rose by 14.4%. In particular, vegetable prices jumped 37% and those
fruits and nuts by 20.5%.
The non-food group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 7.7% in April 2020.
Regions affected by the lockdowns last month, including the capital Accra and the second city of
Kumasi, had average inflation rates 8.81% higher than other regions, according to the
communicated. Thus, for the Greater Accra region the rate is 15.1% while the Upper West region
recorded the lowest year-on-year inflation rate at 2.3%.
Ghana has recorded nearly 5,500 cases of coronavirus, the highest number in West Africa. In
Due to the crisis, the government expects the economy to grow by only 1.5% this year, the rate
the slowest in nearly four decades.