Market

Price of building materials increased

Market prices of iron rods and cement have seen significant increases during the first quarter of the year compared to other building materials such as roofing sheets and paints.

A survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) revealed that traders in cement have consistently experienced price hikes, even when fuel prices remained stable or seen marginal downward review.

Mr Selasi Pomenaya, a trader in building materials, noted that the prices of all three grades of cement produced by Ghana Cement (GHACEM) have increased.

Super Cool, previously sold for GH¢82, now costs Gh¢88; Super Rapid, initially GH¢87 is now GH¢95; and Super Strong, sold at GH¢95, now goes for GH¢105.

However, Mr Pomenaya said roofing sheet prices had decreased since December 2023, remaining stable since then.

He said prices of brands of paint had not seen any fluctuations this year.

For example, a packet of aluminum sheet (rough) is currently selling at GH¢2,300, down from GH¢2,500, while smooth aluminum sheets are now priced at GH¢2,100, an increase from GH¢1,900.

The 20-liter shield paint is sold at GH¢650, and the 10-liter at GH¢350, while the 10-liter Leyland paint is sold at GH¢220.

“I don’t know what is causing the changes in prices, when we go to the producers and prices have increased or decreased, we buy and also increase or decrease the prices,” he said.

Mr Pomenaya added that although business was slow, he could not afford to stay at home idle.

The GNA also discovered that a tonne of iron rods, previously sold at GH¢6,500, was now being sold at GH¢7,000 and above.

Some iron rod traders said the price was highly volatile, making it difficult to provide a specific selling price to potential buyers.

Meanwhile, the Ghana cedi continue to experience a decline in value against the US Dollar and other major trading currencies.

In January this year, GH¢1 was equivalent to $11.91, but by April 2024, the same cedi was equivalent to about $14.42.

The Ghana Statistical Service said Ghana’s inflation rate had also seen fluctuations, going from 23.5 per cent in January 2024 to 23.2 per cent in February and then rising to 25.8 per cent in March.

These factors – inflation and currency depreciation – have contributed to the increasing prices of goods and services in the country, coupled with increased transportation fares due to unstable fuel prices, leading to a higher cost of living.

Source: GNA

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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