Traders Tell Finance Minister: “Prices Are Dropping, Confidence Is Back” – Days Before 2026 Budget
With just four days until the 2026 Budget presentation, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson spent Sunday morning in the heart of Takoradi Market Circle, listening to traders who say economic relief is finally reaching the ground.
Walking through narrow aisles lined with tomatoes, fish, and cloth, Dr. Forson shook hands, took notes, and heard firsthand accounts of falling food prices and rising customer spending.
“This was the most important part of my trip,” the Minister told reporters after nearly two hours of open dialogue. “These women live the economy every day. When they say things are getting better, that’s real progress.”
Market women didn’t hold back.
Madam Esi Arthur, a yam seller, said:
“Last year, one crate of tomatoes was GH¢1,200. Now it’s GH¢600. I can breathe again.”
Another trader, Abena Mensah, who sells second-hand clothes, added:
“People used to come and just look. Now they buy. Even schoolchildren have pocket money again.”
Several praised the drop in fuel prices and stable power supply, saying it’s cutting costs and keeping goods fresh longer.
Dr. Forson nodded as he listened, promising their input will shape budget priorities — from tax relief for small businesses to support for local agriculture.
