Inflation Disparity Widens: Upper West Soars to 36.2%, Volta Lowest at 18.9%—-Ghana‘s latest inflation report for March 2025 shows regional disparities, with the Upper West Region recording the highest inflation rate at 36.2%, while the Volta Region recorded the lowest at 18.9%.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the country’s overall inflation rate dropped to 22.4% in March from 23.1% in February, but inflation remained unevenly distributed across the regions.
The Upper West region continues to experience the highest inflation over the years, driven by rising food prices and transportation costs.
Despite its high agricultural output, the region remained relatively high prices in food, transport, clothes, electricity, among others.
However, Volta region which recorded the lowest inflation in the country benefited from relatively stable prices of goods and services, such as staple goods like maize, rice, cassava and fish. Also transport, utilities and housing were relatively normal for the average citizen.
According to the Report, other regions with high inflation rates included Savannah, Northern, and North East regions, where price increases have remained above the national average.
Moving to Food and Non-Food Inflation, food inflation fell from 28.1% in February to 26.5% in March, indicating improved food supply in some areas, while non-food inflation was recorded at 18.8%, down from 18.7% the previous month, showing a more stable price movement for housing, transport, and other essential services.
Additionally, inflation on locally produced items stood at 25.1%, indicating persistent cost pressures on Ghana-made goods, and imported items recorded an inflation rate of 18.5%, showing relative stability in global prices and the exchange rate.
Importantly, for the average Ghanian, the wide inflation gap between regions highlights economic inequalities, as people in high-inflation areas, such as Upper West, may struggle more with rising costs compared to those in Volta.
So for citizens living in the Upper West region would have to be ready to work extra hard to meet their demands as spending cuts have increased more.
However, improving food distribution, stabilizing fuel prices, and supporting local businesses would help narrow these regional disparities in inflation.
Last Updated on April 3, 2025 by Senel Media
