Ghana inflation rises to 5.2% in September 2026 as food prices climb
Food inflation increased as non-food price growth eased, with fresh tomatoes costing more than twice as much as a year earlier. The national rate remained below both last September’s level and the Bank of Ghana’s target range.
Ghana’s annual inflation rate rose to 5.2% in September 2026, up from 5.0% in August, as food price growth accelerated, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.
Food inflation increased to 4.0% from 3.0%, while non-food inflation eased to 6.2% from 6.8%. Overall consumer prices rose by 1.1% between August and September.
Despite the monthly increase in annual inflation, the September rate was 4.2 percentage points below the 9.4% recorded a year earlier. The lower annual rate means prices were rising more slowly than last September, rather than falling overall.
Fresh tomatoes recorded the largest annual price increase among the items highlighted by the service, rising by 153.4%. Ginger prices increased by 100.4%, while shrimps rose by 62.8%.
The service identified fresh tomatoes, rent payments, ginger, cooked rice, bus and trotro fares, yam and imported beer as the largest price drivers for the month.
These items include everyday food, housing and transport costs, showing why households may experience price pressures differently from the national average.
Some products became cheaper compared with a year earlier. Lime prices fell by 29.9%, maize by 26.4% and foreign apples by 24.1%.
Among spending categories, housing, water, electricity and gas recorded the highest inflation at 10.3%. Insurance and financial services followed at 9.4%, with restaurants and accommodation services at 9.2%.
Information and communication recorded the lowest rate at 0.3%. Education services inflation fell by 3.5 percentage points to 5.7%.
Services inflation eased to 8.3% from 8.6%, but remained nearly twice the 4.2% rate recorded for goods.
Locally produced items recorded inflation of 6.4% and accounted for 85.7% of the overall inflation rate, according to the GSS. Inflation for imported items stood at 2.4%.
There were also substantial regional differences. Ashanti recorded the highest annual inflation rate at 9.8%, while the Western Region recorded a rate of minus 0.5%, indicating a decline in its overall price level compared with a year earlier.
Four regions recorded inflation above the national average. Ashanti and Greater Accra together contributed 56.6% of the national rate.
The Consumer Price Index stood at 271.5, against a 2021 base of 100.
Presenting the figures, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said inflation remained below the lower boundary of the Bank of Ghana’s medium-term target band of 8%, plus or minus two percentage points.
That places the target range between 6% and 10%, with September’s 5.2% rate below its lower limit.
Dr Iddrisu said the statistics service would continue publishing accurate figures on time and maintaining its independence and transparency.
The September figures show a modest increase in national inflation alongside sharper movements in individual products. Food price growth strengthened even as non-food and services inflation eased, leaving the pressure on household budgets dependent on what people buy and where they live.