Ghana’s ginger market is facing a prolonged supply crisis, with traders increasingly relying on imports from China and Morocco as disease outbreaks, rising demand and competition from foreign buyers continue to drive up prices.
The shortage has kept ginger prices elevated for nearly three years, putting pressure on traders and consumers, some of whom are reducing their purchases because of the high cost of the spice.
Traders say local production has yet to recover sufficiently from crop diseases that devastated farms about two years ago, leaving imported supplies to fill the gap.
Akua Stella, a ginger trader, said growing demand from food and beverage manufacturers, coupled with exports to neighbouring countries, had further tightened supplies and contributed to rising prices.
She explained that ginger was increasingly being used in the production of drinks, toffees and biscuits, while exports were reducing the quantities available on the domestic market.
“The use of ginger in drinks, toffees and biscuits, as well as the export of locally produced ginger, has contributed to the high prices. This one I am selling is from Morocco,” she said.
According to her, a sack of ginger currently sells for between GH¢4,500 and GH¢5,500, while a bucket costs GH¢400, an olonka GH¢300 and smaller quantities GH¢100.
Although prices have declined from a peak of GH¢8,000 per sack, she said the cost remained considerably higher than previous levels.
“Ginger prices have remained high over the past three years, but the situation has worsened this year. The price of a sack rose to GH¢8,000. It has now reduced,” she added.
Crop disease disrupts local production
Trader Nimatu Mustapha attributed the supply challenges to a virus outbreak that damaged ginger farms approximately two years ago.
She said traders had been informed that a remedy had been found, but fresh harvests had yet to reach the market in sufficient quantities to ease the shortages.
“The problem started about two years ago when a virus outbreak destroyed ginger crops on local farms. We have not received reports of a similar outbreak this year, as we are told a cure has been found. However, the new ginger harvest is not yet on the market, and we do not expect prices to return to previous levels,” she said.
Mustapha also identified competition from Togolese buyers as another challenge facing Ghanaian traders.
She explained that traders from Togo turned to Ghana for supplies last year after their own production was affected by the outbreak.
According to her, the purchasing power of buyers using the CFA franc allows them to offer attractive prices, making it difficult for some Ghanaian traders to compete for available stocks.
“Last year, Togo was also affected by the virus outbreak, forcing traders to source ginger from Ghana. Because the CFA franc is stronger, Togolese buyers can offer better prices, leaving local traders struggling to compete,” she said.
High prices hit consumer demand
The supply crisis is also affecting sales, with traders reporting that consumers are buying less ginger because of its rising cost.
Irene Pokua, another trader, said a sack of ginger now sells for between GH¢5,000 and GH¢6,000, depending on market conditions.
“Because ginger is expensive, consumers are no longer buying as they used to,” she said.
The decline in sales has compounded the difficulties facing traders, who must contend with high procurement costs while households reduce their spending on the commodity.
With local supplies still constrained, imports from China and Morocco have become increasingly important in meeting market demand. Traders have also reported production challenges affecting supplies from Côte d’Ivoire.
Traders call for government intervention
Against the backdrop of persistent shortages and high prices, traders are calling on the government to support local farmers to restore ginger production and reduce the country’s dependence on imported supplies.
Akua Stella said targeted assistance to farmers would help increase domestic output, improve market availability and ease the pressure on prices.
“If the government supports farmers to increase local ginger production, traders will no longer need to import the product from other countries,” she said.
A sustained recovery in domestic production could help stabilise supplies and improve affordability. However, traders say meaningful price reductions will depend largely on the availability of sufficient quantities of locally grown ginger.
Until then, consumers and traders are likely to remain exposed to high prices and the uncertainties associated with reliance on imported supplies.
