In recent months, Ghana has celebrated a significant development: the strengthening of the Ghana Cedi against major international currencies, particularly the US dollar. This appreciation has been lauded as a sign of economic stability and a step towards alleviating the cost of living. However, for many ordinary Ghanaians, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Despite the Cedi’s impressive performance, the expected relief in the prices of goods and services remains largely elusive, leaving citizens to wonder why things are still so hard.
The disconnect between a stronger national currency and persistent high prices can be attributed to several deeply entrenched market behaviors and structural issues within the Ghanaian economy.
- Market Women’s Resistance to Price Reduction: A primary observation across Ghana’s bustling markets is the reluctance of market women to reduce the prices of their products, even when their import costs theoretically decrease due to a stronger Cedi. This phenomenon is often rooted in several factors:
- Inventory Acquired at Higher Rates: Many market women hold existing stock that was purchased when the Cedi was weaker, and import costs were higher. Reducing prices on these goods would mean incurring losses, a prospect few small-scale traders can afford.
- Fear of Future Depreciation: Ghana’s economic history is marked by periods of Cedi depreciation. Traders, having experienced these cycles, are cautious about lowering prices too quickly, fearing that the Cedi’s gains might be temporary and they would then have to raise prices again, potentially losing customer trust.
Lack of Information and Coordination: There’s often a lack of clear and timely information flowing from the central bank’s pronouncements on currency strength down to individual market vendors. Furthermore, without a coordinated effort or strong consumer pressure, individual market women may see little incentive to unilaterally reduce prices.
- “What Goes Up, Stays Up” Mentality: There’s a prevailing “sticky price” phenomenon, where prices tend to quickly adjust upwards during inflationary periods but are much slower to come down when economic conditions improve. This becomes an ingrained market behavior.
- Drivers’ Unyielding Transport Fares: Another critical link in the supply chain that stubbornly resists downward adjustment is transportation. Drivers and transport unions often maintain their fares at elevated levels, irrespective of fuel price reductions or the Cedi’s appreciation. This has a direct ripple effect on market prices:
- Cost of Goods for Market Women: Market women rely heavily on transport services to bring their produce from farms and wholesalers to the markets. If transport fares remain high, their operational costs do not decrease, giving them little room to reduce their selling prices.
- Fuel Price Volatility and Past Experiences: While the Cedi’s strength might make imported fuel cheaper in Cedi terms, drivers often base their fare structures on past fuel price hikes and the overall volatility of fuel prices. They are often hesitant to reduce fares significantly, anticipating future increases.
- Unionized Decisions: Transport fares are often set by powerful unions, making individual drivers less likely to unilaterally reduce prices, even if they perceive their costs to have lessened. Collective agreements can be slow to reflect new economic realities.
- Maintenance and Spare Part Costs: Even with a stronger Cedi, the cost of vehicle maintenance and spare parts, many of which are imported, may not have significantly decreased, providing another justification for maintaining existing fares.
- The Persistence of Hardship Despite Cedi Strength:
The combined effect of these factors means that the benefits of a stronger Ghana Cedi are not effectively trickling down to the average consumer. While the appreciation might be good news for macro-economic indicators, government debt servicing, and the cost of importing certain industrial raw materials, its impact on the everyday cost of living remains limited.
This creates a frustrating paradox for Ghanaians. They hear about a stronger Cedi and improved economic outlook, yet they continue to grapple with high food prices, expensive transportation, and a generally high cost of living. This disconnect can erode public trust in economic policies and create a sense of disillusionment.
Moving Forward:
For the strengthening Cedi to truly translate into tangible relief for Ghanaians, a multi-pronged approach is necessary:
- Consumer Advocacy and Education: Empowering consumers to demand price reductions and understand the implications of the Cedi’s strength.
- Market Regulation and Monitoring: Increased monitoring and, where appropriate, regulation to prevent price gouging and encourage fair pricing practices.
- Dialogue with Stakeholders: Engaging market associations, transport unions, and business leaders to foster a collective understanding and commitment to passing on the benefits of a stronger Cedi to consumers.
Sustained Economic Stability: The Cedi’s appreciation needs to be sustained over a longer period to build confidence among traders and drivers, encouraging them to adjust their pricing models accordingly.
- Investment in Local Production and Supply Chains: Reducing reliance on imports through increased local production can cushion the economy from global price fluctuations and the direct impact of exchange rate movements on consumer goods.
Until these sticky elements in the pricing chain are addressed, the positive narrative of a stronger Ghana Cedi will remain largely academic for many, while the everyday struggle for affordability continues to be a stark reality.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
