The Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Kenneth Kwamina Thompson, says while the Statistical Service pegs Ghana\u2019s inflation rate at 33.9%, for him it feels more like 80%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that the cost of basic things, particularly food items, have since January inflated above 80% and there is no sign of it slowing down soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This, he says, has placed undue burden on his pocket and that of ordinary Ghanaians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on JoyNews\u2019 PM Express Business Edition, he said, \u201cThey say inflation is what, 33.9%? In my pocket it feels more like 80%.I mean if you take the cost of basic things \u2013 frozen foods January 2022 120 cedis, now it\u2019s 250 cedis, that is 108% increase. That is frozen foods, frozen chicken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoyal Aroma Rice 5kg 32 cedis to 58cedis, 81% increase. Frytol, 15 cedis to 30 cedis, that is an 88% increase. The things I haven\u2019t asked is pure water, salt, pepper, tomatoes. So inflation is for me, in my pocket, and I\u2019m not disputing what the statistical service has, in my pocket it is more like 80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd then you know, for us as a company, we pay for our IT services, most of them are in dollar rates \u2026 and that has almost doubled. So for me in my pockets that is over 80%.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghana\u2019s annual inflation rate accelerated for the 15th straight month to 33.9% in August of 2022, from 31.7% in July, but below market forecasts of 34.3%. It was the highest reading since August of 2001, even after Ghana\u2019s central bank delivered a record 300bps rate hike during an emergency meeting in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking concerning the situation, Mr. Thompson noted that the rise in inflation and the subsequent plummeting of the cedi have had a rather devastating effect on businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that due to the fast eroding purchasing power of Ghanaians, fewer people are now able to engage the services of businesses, thus leading to drastic falls in revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also added that the case of hiked interest rates means that now either businesses that need funding cannot go for it or when they do it is too expensive, thus causing more problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s a serious problem, real serious problem. I mean, these times are hard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n