Deputy Minister Engages Farmers to Address Rising Ginger Prices
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has stated that engagements have already begun to find solutions to the recent spike in the price of ginger.
In a tweet on X on 14th February 2026, the Deputy Minister attributed the spike to low harvests following discussions with farmers in the Oti Region on 13th February 2026. He explained that the visit was aimed at finding practical solutions to the problem.
This follows reports by the Ghana Statistical Service, which identified ginger as a major driver of food inflation in Ghana. The report showed that ginger alone contributed 6.8% to national inflation — a significant impact for a single food item.
Also Business Outlook Africa investigations, conducted prior to the Deputy Minister’s visit, reveal multiple forces driving the sharp rise in ginger prices.
Poor rainfall has significantly reduced harvests in the Volta and Ashanti regions. In Ashanti, illegal mining has also eaten into fertile farmland — shrinking supply and inevitably pushing prices higher.
To bridge the gap, traders are increasingly importing ginger from Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. The imported variety is often larger and more visually appealing — but it comes at a higher cost.
And it’s not just households feeling the pinch.
Ghana’s beverage and confectionery industries consume ginger in large volumes — from non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, to the growing demand for sobolo, biscuits, toffees, and even pharmaceuticals. Industrial buyers typically pay premium prices, further intensifying competition in the market.
Today, a sack of ginger sells between ₵3,500 and ₵4,000 — and surged to ₵5,000 during the last festive season.
The Deputy Minister’s visit highlights government efforts to work closely with farmers, enhance production practices, and strengthen storage and distribution channels to stabilize supply and ease price pressures.
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