Harmattan’s Effect On Food Prices; Food Shortages In Ghana.

The high cost of food in Accra markets due to the extreme effects of the harmattan season on farmlands has both sellers and buyers complaining even after the appreciation of the cedi to the dollar, especially our local foods that do not seem to be imported.

It is that time of the year again when they experience the full effect of the northeast trade winds that makes them conscious of the ending of a long 365 days and the beginning of another 365 days. At this time, Christians celebrate the festive season of Christmas and new year, where food becomes a major commodity and plays a significant role in their celebrations.

With the recent appreciation of the cedi to the dollar, it is only ideal that the insanely high prices of food would dramatically be decreased, but instead, buyers walk through the markets only to find out that harmattan has decided the amount of food and type of food to be used in celebration as the cost of food commodities rise.

The northern part of the country experiences severe dryness during this season, even the southern parts like Accra can feel and experience its effects as food prices no longer seem the same. During this severe dryness which is caused by the northeast trade winds, bushfires become a threat and cause farmers to increase the price of food to cover up for the shortage of food.

Harmattan has its advantages like few malaria recorded cases due to reduced mosquito activity, less sweating due to a very dry environment, and quicker drying time for laundry. Vegetables like onions, corn, beans, and other leafy vegetables become easy to preserve especially after the reduction of onions from 1500 ghs to 1200 ghs after the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi.

However, amid all its advantages also come its disadvantages such as poor visibility, rapid accumulation of dirt, dryness of skin and the major problem which has caused a very high cost of food in the market is the low amount of rainfall that has caused a reduction in crop harvest.

Local food vendors complain about the cost of okra and other food ingredients.” We are forced to sell our okra stews separately even after buying ‘banku’ because okra is too expensive. We can’t buy anymore” says Mrs Hannah Adjei, a street food vendor at Suncity, Accra.

A short interview with an okra seller at the Ashaiman under-bridge market revealed that okra is now expensive as a result of no rainfall during this season. Her reply to the question as to why food commodities are still expensive was;” the rains no longer come because of the dry season, so our vegetables become expensive”. Another okra seller from the market responded,” it is because we are celebrating the Christmas season, that is why our prices have gone up.

From the Ashaiman market, we get the chance to speak to Miss Benedicta. Benedicta is one of the okra sellers in the market. She said; "okra was sold between seven to ten okra for 50 pesewas but now, because of the harmattan, I sell okra between four to five for 1 cedi.” This has been another effect of the harmattan in this festive season.

As a result of the severe impact of harmattan on farmlands, cassava has suddenly become scarce as farmers find it difficult to cultivate cassava from the hard grounds. Miss. Adjei, a fufu seller, shares her experience;” I sell fufu at 5cedis but it’s now difficult to get cassava, and when I do get some, it’s usually in small quantity and expensive. I now sell fufu at 7 cedis.”