Bread shortage hits Tamale as bakers strike

Bread makers in Tamale have laid down their tools the over increasing high cost of production.

Shortages have already hit many parts of the metropolis and impact is expected to be inconveniently widespread as the Muslims holy month of Ramadan approaches in days ahead.

Several top bakeries and local ovens in the city, including Shekinah Bakery at Russia Bungalows, were shutdown and bakers warned of escalation if prices of flour and other products continue to rise.

Buyers and sellers were already scrambling Tuesday morning, in long queues for orders. Loaves run out in several shops as early as 7am and many tea lovers went home empty handed.

Madam Esther Siriboe, an executive member of the northern region bakers association said this strike action was a collective but difficult decision taken by members of the association.

“Tea bread will remain the same – we used to cut 2gh for one pound but now we are reducing it to eight ounces, so we will still package like six for GH10. Butter bread GH2, we used to package 6 for GH10 but now we are reducing it to five- the six is canceled. The sellers will now sell it at Gh2.50p. GH3 for sugar bread and butter bread is going for GH4, and in that order,” Madam Esther said.

She said the decision was a last resort measure to salvage the bread business in the metropolis which has been suffocating by high prices of flour, sugar, margarine, nut milk and other yeast.

“Within three to four weeks now, Olam and erany flour have been increased to GH25?, she added. ” We were getting here at GH135 – 140, now it’s being increased to GH165- 160. Sugar has been increased from somewhere GH130-140 to GH190 now. Margarine was somewhere GH180 to almost GH190. Nut milk has been increased. Yeast has been increased, everything about the bread has been increased”.