Even though Ghana’s overall inflation eased to 3.3 percent in February 2026, prices of key household essentials such as charcoal, plantain, and education-related expenses continued to exert significant pressure on consumers.
Data from the Ghana Statistical Service indicate that the top 20 items with the highest price increases accounted for a large share of the country’s year-on-year inflation for the month, underscoring the uneven nature of the easing price trend.
Charcoal recorded the largest impact on inflation, with prices rising by 53.1 percent compared to the same period last year. Although the commodity registered a slight month-on-month decline, its heavy reliance by households as an alternative energy source kept it as the leading contributor to inflation.
Green plantain also experienced a substantial increase, climbing 67.9 percent year-on-year, reflecting continued fluctuations in the cost of staple foods. Other food items such as river fish and smoked herrings also posted notable price increases, highlighting sustained cost pressures on common protein sources.
Education costs were another major factor influencing inflation. Fees for both public and private secondary schools increased by 10 percent over the past year and rose by 4 percent between January and February. Costs associated with pre-primary and primary education also contributed to the overall price increases.
Housing-related expenses added further pressure. Rent payments rose by 7.4 percent year-on-year, with a sharp 5.3 percent increase recorded between January and February alone. Additional contributors included charges for re-sold tap water and refuse disposal.
Other goods and services that recorded noticeable price increases included vegetable oil, cooked rice, tomato paste, yam, beef, hotel accommodation, and popular local meals such as fufu with soup and kenkey with fried fish.
Although the country’s headline inflation has declined to its lowest level since the 2021 rebasing of the Consumer Price Index, the latest item-level data suggest that price pressures remain concentrated in essential sectors such as food, housing, household energy alternatives, and education—areas that significantly affect household spending.
The trend also signals that while macroeconomic stability is gradually improving, businesses in sectors such as food retail, hospitality, housing, and private education may continue to face cost-related sensitivities from consumers.
