Lawrence Yeboah Gyan, Broadcast JournalistSunyani, the Bono regional capital, has long been admired for its calm environment, clean streets, and affordability. Often referred to as one of Ghana’s most peaceful cities, which attracted students, civil servants, and small business owners seeking a quality of life outside of the hustle and high expenses of Accra or Kumasi.
However, in recent years, the narrative has changed. Residents now face an alarming increase in the cost of living, with food prices surging and rental costs escalating, largely due to the unchecked activities of housing agents.
Now, I explore the factors driving these changes, their impact on residents, and possible solutions.
With a deep dive into how the regional capital, which was among places where the cost of living was very affordable, is becoming extremely difficult to afford basic items, including food. Prices of food items in Sunyani have seen a steady and sharp increase over the past four years. For a city where many residents rely on local markets and informal trading for daily meals, the price hikes have been painful and unbearable, especially when the region has been touted as the breadbasket of Ghana.
A visit to Nana Bosoma market revealed that some women travel from the Eastern Region to sell plantain, which turns “gold” whenever it hits the Sunyani market.
Notable Price Changes:
• 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐢: A staple among students and low-income earners, now sells between GHC 25 and GHC 35 per measure, almost double what it was four years ago.
• 𝐘𝐚𝐦: Once abundant in the Bono Region, three medium tubers now cost GHC 50 to GHC 100, depending on the season and market.
• 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧: 3 fingers go for GHC 20, depending on season and market.
• 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐲 & 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡: A simple street meal that used to cost GHC 5–7 now ranges between GHC 15 and GHC 20.
One of the most pressing concerns among residents today is not just the cost of food, but the rising cost of rent, largely influenced by real estate agents and middlemen who have inserted themselves into nearly every housing transaction in the city.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠?
• Agents charge non-refundable fees just to show available rooms or apartments (commonly GHC 50–100).
• They demand 10% or more as commission on top of the agreed rent.
• Some even request extra facilitation fees for “priority viewings.”
• Tenants are often required to pay 1–2 years of rent upfront, especially for self-contained apartments.
• This practice contravenes Ghana’s Rent Act, which recommends no more than 6 months’ advance payment, but the law is rarely enforced.
• Agents have been known to inflate rental prices, especially for out-of-town clients or students unfamiliar with local rates.
• In some cases, landlords increase rent simply because agents claim that “everyone else is doing it.”
• Almost every agent in Sunyani operates informally, without licenses or oversight.
The combined effect of rising food and rent prices is taking a heavy toll on various segments of the population:
• Students from institutions such as the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) Fiapre, and Sunyani Technical University (STU) struggle to secure affordable housing.
• Some are forced into overcrowded rooms or commute long distances from places where it is less expensive to rent, which are usually far from their campuses.
Civil Servants & Professionals:
• Mid-level workers such as nurses, teachers, and junior administrators find themselves spending over 50% of their monthly salary on rent alone.
Low-income Families:
• Households have had to literally compromise on food quality and quantity, and even pull children from private schools due to increased spending on essentials.
𝟏 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐇𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟎/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐇𝐂 𝟑𝟎𝟎–𝟔𝟎𝟎/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡
𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 + 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐇𝐂 𝟏𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥
Sunyani’s cost of living crisis reflects a larger urban management issue seen in many growing Ghanaian cities. The informal agent economy, when left unregulated, adds artificial inflation to housing costs. Combined with economic pressures from food prices and fuel, it creates an environment where living standards decline, especially for the vulnerable. Furthermore, youth migration increases as young people look elsewhere for more affordable opportunities. Moreover, social tension rises, as economic inequality becomes more visible in daily life.
Short-term solutions like public education campaigns on rent laws and tenant rights. Standardized pricing platforms for rooms and rental listings to cut out exploitative agents. Local food markets and cooperatives to bypass middlemen and reduce food prices.
Some long-term strategies include enforcing rent control laws with penalties for landlords and agents demanding illegal advance payments. Additionally, Formal registration and training of housing agents through municipal assemblies, as well as affordable housing schemes targeted at students, new workers, and low-income households, could be considered.
Sunyani’s rising cost of living, driven by both food inflation and housing exploitation, is a call for urgent policy and community action. While economic trends play a role, human-made factors such as unregulated housing agents and profit-driven practices have made living in the city increasingly difficult. Without timely intervention, Sunyani risks becoming a city that only the wealthy can afford, losing its identity as a welcoming, balanced place to live.
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The writer is a 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 with 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨, 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐢- 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧. Email: 𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐡𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞@𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦
