By: ๐๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ก ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง
Sunyani, the Bono regional capital, has long been admired for its calm environment, clean streets, and affordability. Often referred to as one of Ghanaโs most peaceful cities, which attracted students, civil servants, and small business owners seeking a quality of life outside of the hustle and high expenses of Accra or Kumasi.
However, in recent years, the narrative has changed. Residents now face an alarming increase in the cost of living, with food prices surging and rental costs escalating, due to the unchecked activities of housing agents. Now, I explore the factors driving these changes, their impact on residents, and possible solutions.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐
With a deep dive into how a once-affordable regional capital is becoming financially unbearable for many residents, food commodities in Sunyani have seen a steady and sharp increase over the past four years. For a city where many residents rely on local markets and informal trading for daily meals, the price hikes have been painful, especially when the region has been touted as the breadbasket of Ghana. A visit to Nana Bosoma market revealed that some women travel from the Eastern Region to sell plantain, which turns โgoldโ whenever it hits the Sunyani market.
Notable Price Changes:
โข ๐๐๐ซ๐ข: A staple among students and low-income earners, now sells between GHC 25 and GHC 35 per measure, almost double what it was four years ago.
โข ๐๐๐ฆ: Once abundant in the Bono Region, three medium tubers now cost GHC 50 to GHC 100, depending on the season and market.
โข ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง: 3 fingers go for GHC 20, depending on season and market.
โข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ฒ & ๐
๐ข๐ฌ๐ก: A simple street meal that used to cost GHC 5โ7 now ranges between GHC 15 and GHC 20.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
One of the most pressing concerns among residents today is not just the cost of food, but the rising cost of rent, largely influenced by real estate agents and middlemen who have inserted themselves into nearly every housing transaction in the city.
๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ?
โข Agents charge non-refundable fees just to show available rooms or apartments (commonly GHC 50โ100).
โข They demand 10% or more as commission on top of the agreed rent.
โข Some even request extra facilitation fees for “priority viewings.”
โข Tenants are often required to pay 1โ2 years of rent upfront, especially for self-contained apartments.
โข This practice contravenes Ghana’s Rent Act, which recommends no more than 6 monthsโ advance payment but the law is rarely enforced.
โข Agents have been known to inflate rental prices, especially for out-of-town clients or students unfamiliar with local rates.
โข In some cases, landlords increase rent simply because agents claim that “everyone else is doing it.”
โข Every agent in Sunyani operates informally, without licenses or oversight.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
The combined effect of rising food and rent prices is taking a heavy toll on various segments of the population:
๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌStudents:
โข Students from institutions such as the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) Fiapre, and Sunyani Technical University (STU) struggle to secure affordable housing.
โข Some are forced into overcrowded rooms or long commutes from less expensive towns.
Civil Servants & Professionals:
โข Mid-level workers such as nurses, teachers, and junior administrators find themselves spending over 50% of their monthly salary on rent alone.
Low-income Families:
โข Households have had to cut back on food quality and quantity, and even pull children from private schools due to increased spending on essentials.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐จ๐ฐ)
๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐-๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐
๐๐๐ซ๐ข (๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ) ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐/๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐/๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก
๐๐ข๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ + ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐
๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฅ
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Sunyaniโs cost of living crisis reflects a larger urban management issue seen in many growing Ghanaian cities. The informal agent economy, when left unregulated, adds artificial inflation to housing costs. Combined with economic pressures from food prices and fuel, it creates an environment where living standards decline, especially for the vulnerable. Furthermore, youth migration increases as young people look elsewhere for more affordable opportunities. Moreover, social tension rises, as economic inequality becomes more visible in daily life.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐?
Short-term solutions like public education campaigns on rent laws and tenant rights. Standardized pricing platforms for rooms and rental listings to cut out exploitative agents. Local food markets and cooperatives to bypass middlemen and reduce food prices.
Some long-term strategies include enforcing rent control laws with penalties for landlords and agents demanding illegal advance payments. Additionally, Formal registration and training of housing agents through municipal assemblies, as well as affordable housing schemes targeted at students, new workers, and low-income households, could be considered.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Sunyaniโs rising cost of living, driven by both food inflation and housing exploitation, is a call for urgent policy and community action. While economic trends play a role, human-made factors such as unregulated housing agents and profit-driven practices have made living in the city increasingly difficult. Without timely intervention, Sunyani risks becoming a city that only the wealthy can afford, losing its identity as a welcoming, balanced place to live.
#DevelopmentJournalismIsMyFocus#
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๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ก ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง
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