Fresh tomatoes record 158.3% price jump in August – GSS

In August 2026, fresh tomatoes experienced a staggering 158.3% year-on-year price increase, marking the most significant price surge among commodities tracked by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). This sharp rise occurred amidst relatively stable overall food inflation, which decreased to 3.0% from 3.1% in July. Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, highlighted the disparity in price experiences across various commodities during the monthly Consumer Price Index presentation.

Tomatoes saw the highest year-on-year price rise of any tracked item, followed by ginger, with a 128.3% increase. Other notable price jumps included shrimp (+67.1%), mangoes (+57.7%), fresh coconuts (+38.0%), and green peppers (+30.5%). Conversely, lime prices plummeted by 33.7%, while maize prices fell by 31.3%. Additional reductions were observed in cocoyam leaves, sweet apples, fried fish, and pawpaw.

Despite the extensive price fluctuations, the GSS reported a general decline in food prices of 2.5% month-on-month in August. Dr. Iddrisu emphasized that inflation measures the rate of price changes rather than the absolute price levels of individual goods. He explained that overall year-on-year inflation rose to 5.0% in August from 4.6% in July, but remained considerably lower than the 11.5% recorded in August 2025.

Non-food inflation was the primary driver, surging to 6.8% compared to 3.0% for food inflation. Non-food items comprised 70.9% of total inflation, while food contributed 29.1%, with services accounting for 8.6% of inflation.

Locally produced goods and services accounted for 86.2% of total inflation, while imported items registered 2.2% inflation. The Ghana Private Hospital Association (GPHA) also commended 410 staff members for their outstanding service. Meanwhile, Ghana's borrowing costs decreased as inflation eased sharply, according to the World Bank.