Tema, Aug 11, GNA - Tema Community One Central Market traders, have called on Government to investigate why food prices continue to rise in spite of the President's relief measures.

On May 22 this year government announced the reduction of import duties on major food items including rice and vegetable oil as well as waive levies on some petroleum products. The intervention was aimed at mitigating the impact of rising world food and oil prices. Two and a half months after the announcement, the traders at Tema told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema during a market survey that, prices had rather increased contrary to their expectations. They said the increased in prices was negatively affecting their business because demand for their wares has fallen with many complaining of limited income. Mr Ampofo Minkah, a rice and vegetable cooking oil dealer, said as at the 31st December last year, a 50 kilogram bag of 'AA Thai' rice popularly known as 'Kofi Wayo' rice sold at GH¢28, now sells at GH¢53.

He said an "Olonka" (American Tin) of Chicago rice sold in January at GH¢2.50 now cost GH¢4. Mr Minkah said price of vegetable cooking oil has also gone up from GH¢35.70 for a 25-litre of Turkey brand cooking oil to GH¢46.90 at present. Madam Agnes Harjor, a trader attributed the rising prices of rice for instance to the absence of local rice on the Ghanaian market, hence importers of foreign rice taking advantage to raise the price. According to her, some local rice were re-bagged and branded and resold on the local market as if they were imported. Fish mongers at the market, the GNA interacted with corroborated the price hikes.