The Member of Parliament for Hohoe, Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, caused a stir in Parliament after walking into the chamber with food items during the 2026 Budget debate.
During proceedings on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the MP displayed a 5kg bag of packaged rice and a bottle of cooking oil to support his argument when he took the floor to make his submission.
According to him, some Minority MPs had raised concerns about rising food inflation and claimed that many Ghanaians are unable to afford basic food items. Tsekpo said he decided to personally verify the claims by going to the market to purchase the items himself.
“Mr Speaker, I heard one of our senior colleagues talk about food inflation, that people are not able to buy,” Tsekpo said.
He asserted that he bought the items at prices he believes are significantly lower than those under the previous government. Tsekpo claimed he purchased the rice for GH¢99, compared to GH¢164 in 2024, and the cooking oil for GH¢39, compared to GH¢60 in 2024.
“Yesterday, Mr Speaker, because I’m a bachelor, I went to the market and I was able to buy what they were talking about. Last year, this rice, which is Abena rice, was sold at GH¢164, just last year Christmas. This Frytol cooking oil, Mr Speaker, was sold at GH¢60. Yesterday, just yesterday, Mr Speaker, I bought this rice for GH¢99, and this oil for GH¢39,” he claimed.
Tsekpo attributed what he described as lower prices to the government’s economic interventions, commending their efforts.
“This is evidence of the economy that we have transformed, from the junk status they left it in, to the status we have moved it to,” he added.
