If you’re new on My Desk, this is a series of discussions around Ghana based on its politics and socio-economic events. In this and previous episodes, I do well to add my voice on the day-to-day everyday joys and lamentations of the ordinary young Ghanaian. By writing on these topical issues, I hope that we can all think deeper and aim to change the country in our own small ways. Head to the previous post to catch up on all the discussions we have had so far and come back let’s have some more gist.

Location

Some people are arguing that it is the part of Ghana that you live in that determines whether it is expensive or not. Well, what they are trying to say is that, it is those of us living in Accra who are feeling the brunt of the high cost of living as compared to those living in other regions. If that is the case, I guess we need to do a survey and know which part of Ghana is the least expensive. Even in Accra, there are places where the rich go and there are places for the have nots. Therefore in choosing where to play, choose according to the size of your pocket.

Shocking

I’ve literally told almost everyone I know of my recent wake up call. There is this nice kenkey that I used to buy after work. It is located around the KFC at Nkrumah Circle, opposite the Vodafone Headoffice. However, for a couple of weeks I was not using that route and so I had stopped buying from there. The kenkey, which was previously sold for 2 cedis, is always served super hot and it is usually served with shrimps and fried fish.If you’re a kenkey lover, you know that kenkey is best eaten soft and hot and that’s just how this vendor serves it.

My dear readers, just last week Friday, I passed by the place. As usual, I went to see if they had mounted the table on which the kenkey is being sold. Lo and behold, they were present. Upon reaching my turn, I asked that two balls of kenkey should be wrapped in a bag for me. I then proceeded to hand over a 5 cedis note to the vendor and was waiting for my balance. The woman looked at me sternly with her hands outstretched as if she was demanding something else from me. So I asked her what the matter was and she said I needed to add 3cedis more to the money I had given her.

Friends and family, that was how I found out that a ball of kenkey is now 4 cedis. I was besides myself with shock. By the way, I took my money back and went home without the kenkey.

Fuel prices

The last I checked, fuel prices had also reached GHS9.8 and it is not a joke. Herh! Ghana is moving on a fast lane and some of us are yet to catch up. The recent increase in transportation fares was by virtue of the constant increase in fuel prices. As the days go by, drivers and their mates are on the necks of passengers, who in turn give them the insults of their lives. This fuel price hikes indirectly affects all other areas of business transactions in the country and so why wouldn’t one complain that things are expensive?

Cost of goods

Groceries are no more the same prices as they were months ago. Oneday you go get something at 2cedis and the next couple of days the same item could be selling at 4cedis. It never ends with prices of goods. That also affects the rate cards of most businesses as they do not want to run at a lose. We tend to assume that the privileged in society will be okay with these prices and therefore, we do not consider the average Ghanaian, who may not be able to afford a three square meal due to the high cost of living. Our favorite delicacies such as Kenkey, Kooko, Waakye, and Gob3 (Red Red), which used to cost less and could fit in the budget of even students and low income workers, are now expensive and no more cut the budget for these group of people. And yet with all these things happening, we still wonder why Accra is expensive?

Property rates

A recent study which I recently came across on social media projects Accra among the most expensive cities in the world. When I set my eyes on the findings, I was besides myself with shock. High cost of accommodation and property rate was used as a metric for the research. I could not agree less since the cost of rent is high and you only get access to the keys after paying for one year or two years rent advance.

And if you are a foreigner, you better be ready to pay once you are in Accra and need a place for shelter. Although authorities have asked the Rent Control to regulate some of these activities by landlords, how effective the law enforcement is also matters.

Ashawo season

Interestingly, as prices keep skyrocketing, so is the price of services such as sex. You hear some people say it is one of the cheapest commodities on the market these days. But the real question is, is it really cheap? Eventhough sex work is illegal in the country, sex workers keep increasing due to the high cost of living. In one particular documentary which I watched, an Accra-based sex worker revealed that they equally feel the brunt of the increase in fuel and transportation prices and therefore they needed to increase their prices to meet the high demands.

And so my dear readers, at this rate of high cost of living, and with the oldest profession increasing its prices, all I can think of is one of our favorite musicians, Kwesi Arthur, when he said, “2022 Ashawo Season, so we go dey everywhere, yeah! Grrrr!”. You better get busy with work and acquire multiple streams of income, otherwise hunger will kill you. LOL!

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