Prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Dennis Miracles Aboagye has once again spotlighted the pinch felt by ordinary Ghanaians at the market, using the humble yet iconic kenkey as a barometer for the cost-of-living pressures that persist even as national inflation cools.
In a widely circulated statement, Aboagye declared that kenkey now sells for GHS 7 and up to GHS 10 in some places. He further noted sharp increases in drinking water, with bottled water jumping from GHS 28 to GHS 36, and sachet water rising from GHS 8 to GHS 10.
The remarks have reignited public conversation around the so-called “Kenkey Index” — an informal but powerful gauge of household affordability that frequently features in political discourse and parliamentary debates.
While Aboagye’s figures reflect real experiences in certain locations, markets, and portion sizes, recent vendor surveys and consumer reports indicate significant variation. A standard ball of kenkey remains most commonly priced at around GHS 5 across many monitored areas, accounting for the majority of daily sales. Prices typically range from GHS 4 to GHS 8, with occasional higher charges for larger wraps, special preparations, or in upscale neighbourhoods. Spikes to GHS 10 have been documented sporadically throughout 2025, particularly earlier in the year.
The price movements Aboagye highlighted occur against the backdrop of a markedly improved inflation environment. According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s latest release on January 7, 2026, headline inflation dropped to 5.4% in December 2025 — the lowest reading since the current Consumer Price Index series began in 2021. This represents the 12th straight month of disinflation, down sharply from 23.8% a year earlier.
Food inflation, a major driver of living costs, eased to 4.9% year-on-year in December (from 6.6% in November), helping pull the overall figure lower. Non-food inflation moderated to 5.8%, while monthly price increases remained tame at 0.9%.
Despite these positive macro trends, Aboagye’s intervention underscores a key reality: headline figures often mask regional, seasonal, and product-specific variations that hit low- and middle-income households hardest. Staples such as kenkey, alongside affordable sources of drinking water, remain dietary essentials for millions, making even modest upward adjustments highly visible and politically charged.
Observers note that while the stronger cedi, improved inflation expectations, and commodity price stability have supported the disinflation process, lingering pressures from transport costs, packaging materials, utility tariffs (with recent increases approved for 2026), and supply-chain dynamics continue to influence street-level pricing.
As the new year unfolds, Miracles Aboagye’s focus on the price of kenkey serves as a reminder that for many Ghanaians, true economic relief will be measured not only in national statistics but in the daily realities of the market stall and the household budget.