‘Ga’ kenkey patrons may be subjected to additional charges as some sellers are considering including the cost of pepper, tomato and onion in their production costs.
The sellers argue that the price of pepper has increased significantly, leading to the need to sell the pepper sauce despite opposition from some patrons.
Numerous sellers of the popular staple dish now have to conduct extensive calculations to maintain their books and ensure the smooth operation of their businesses.
“The prices of all the ingredients we use to prepare the kenkey are very costly now. So, we have to adjust to stay afloat,” Mercy Amina Sackey, a kenkey seller at Adabraka in Accra, said.
The cost of the once-affordable meal is rising, and some sellers are threatening to cease offering free pepper sauce, causing some patrons to protest.
Justifying the move, kenkey seller Amina Sackey maintained that “a bag of green pepper costs GHC700; a box of tomatoes going for GHC3,000 and a bag of onion is selling now at GHC700. We are suffering.”
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 8.4 million Ghanaians last year went without food daily, a situation that could escalate if food prices remain high. Within the same period, it was found that six out of 10 Ghanaians suffered from hunger, with 93% of Ghanaians eating less than the required food portions per day.
Experts are concerned the new move by the kenkey sellers could exacerbate food insecurity in the country.
“If you want to enjoy a good kenkey meal, you must budget at least GHC20 to get all the compliments. There are people you expect to have money to buy but they rather ask for a reduction,” Amina Sackey noted.
Some consumers have expressed their frustration with the rising food prices, claiming they are already financially squeezed.
“You can’t afford rice. Kenkey is what has been helping us over the years but their attempt to sell the pepper could eventually force rice sellers to also sell the stew. Honestly, a day without kenkey can make things unbearable for us. We may end up preparing our own pepper source at home.”
If it is to affect anything, it should be the balls of Kenkey rather. They could reduce the size of a ball of kenkey and adjust things than decide to sell the pepper to us. If they begin this new initiative, it would open the floodgates and make things even more expensive,” they lamented.
Kenkey sellers are demanding that the government address their concerns to prevent the negative impact on their businesses and consumers.