By Jibril Abdul Mumuni, GNA
Accra, Sept. 4, GNA – Fresh tomatoes emerge as the single biggest contributor to Ghana’s inflation in August 2026, accounting for 23.1 per cent of the overall 5.0 per cent inflation rate, the latest Consumer Price Index said on Thursday.
The commodity also recorded the highest year-on-year inflation rate among all items tracked by the Statistical Service, surging by 158.3 per cent compared with August 2025.
Presenting the August Consumer Price Index at the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Government’s Statistician, said the increase displaced ginger, which had topped the inflation rankings for several months.
He noted that the price of fresh tomatoes more than doubled over the 12-month period.
That, he noted, underscored the significant variations that could occur in individual commodity prices despite the relatively low national inflation rate.
The Government Statistician said rent payments were the second-largest contributor to inflation, accounting for 14.7 per cent of the total headline rate.
Other major contributors included charcoal, cooked rice, yam, transport fares, electricity charges and school fees.
After tomatoes, ginger recorded the second-highest inflation rate at 128.3 per cent, followed by shrimps at 67.1 per cent, mangoes at 57.7 per cent, and parking space and related services at 40.0 per cent.
While some products experienced sharp price increases, others saw significant declines.
Lime recorded the highest negative inflation rate of 33.7 per cent, followed by maize at 31.3 per cent.
Kontomire leaves fell by 24.8 per cent, sweet apples by 23.5 per cent, and fried fish by 23.2 per cent.
The data suggest that although headline inflation remains relatively subdued at 5.0 per cent, consumers continue to experience substantial price swings in specific commodities, particularly fresh produce.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Jibril Abdul Mumuni