A shortage of bread is being reprted in the Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital. This is the result of a strike action undertaken by bakers in the region last week which has been blamed on an increase in the prices of flour. The price of flour went up when petroleum prices where raised, refusing to go down even when government reduced fuel prices “The Sankofa flour which used to be sold at ¢260,000 is now ¢290,000, the Cross flour which used to be sold at ¢260,000 is now sold at ¢271,000 and the Stool flour which used to be ¢250,000 is now ¢271,000”, a baker explained to ADM.

Asawasi, C-Line where many bread bakeries are concentrated, has been without its usual bustle.

“When the new price came, we reduced the weight of the bread, but the sellers say they quarrel with customers, who seem not satisfied with the size… This affects our sales”, a baker told ADM.

At the time of going to press, the various bread bakers associations in Kumasi were locked up in a meeting at the Anglican Church at Bompata, a suburb of Kumasi, to discuss whether to abandon the strike action or continue.

But even before the meeting started, the atmosphere was of mixed feelings as some bakers complained of losing their jobs because of the strike action imposed by their organizations. “I will propose for the abandonment of this action, because that is how people always behave when we increase bread prices; they will adjust”, a baker said.

Since the start of the year, price of flour has been increased twice, with the latest being the highest.