In Tema, Ghana, parents and guardians are thronging markets and trading centers to buy supplies for Senior High Schools, only to find that prices have increased significantly. A chop box that sold for GH₢270 last year now costs between GH₢300 and GH₢330. Student mattresses have also risen from GH₢250 to GH₢280. Large school bags have jumped from GH₢100 to GH₢150, while uniform materials, footwear, and stationery have become pricier.
Parents interviewed by the Ghana News Agency described the increases as a fresh financial strain. Madam Salomey Sugaa said the rising costs had added pressure on households. Madam Mawusi Semanu noted that families had little choice but to pay up since the items were compulsory for admission. Mr Kojo Annan echoed the concern, saying traders were aware that parents had no room to negotiate.
Traders pointed to forces beyond their control, including manufacturers and distributors setting prices. Mr Ametefe Serlom said retailers had thin margins, and the higher costs had dampened sales as buyers bargained harder. Ms Kesewa Boboo noted that the market had seen an influx of temporary sellers cashing in on the back-to-school rush, intensifying competition.
The price rises occur against the backdrop of Ghana's Free Senior High School policy, which covers tuition and boarding costs but leaves personal items to be shouldered by families. This gap means the promise of reduced schooling costs under the policy does not fully shield households from price swings.
The increases also come amid a broader pattern of price pressure across Ghana's economy. The cost of manufactured goods and imported raw materials has fed through to retail prices for household items. However, the exact drivers behind this year's jump in supply costs are not specified.
The rising costs of school supplies have sparked concerns about the impact on households. The situation is not unique to Tema, as other education-related stories have made headlines this reopening season. A Bono East regional minister rejected a shoddy GETFund-built dining hall, while a Gushegu MP gifted cash and equipment to an unpaid teacher.
For now, parents in Tema continue to move from shop to shop, comparing prices and bargaining hard as they try to complete their children's school lists before reopening. There is no indication of government intervention on supply prices or a timeline for addressing the cost pressures.
Key points
- The surge in school supply prices in Tema, Ghana, is straining parents' finances despite the Free SHS policy.
- The price increases are attributed to various factors, including manufacturers and distributors setting prices.
- The situation highlights the gap in Ghana's Free Senior High School policy, which does not cover personal items.
