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Archival footage shows Ghanaians scrambling for essential goods during 1973 shortages
via GhanaWeb1 min read
An old archival video has resurfaced, depicting Ghanaians struggling to purchase essential commodities, particularly sugar, during the severe shortages of 1973. The footage shows large crowds at the Accra Community Centre attempting to secure subsidized goods after the National Redemption Council NRC government, led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, confiscated hoarded supplies and made them available to the public. Ghana faced acute shortages of subsidized items like sugar and milk, largely due to hoarding, smuggling, and black-market trading. In response, the NRC government seized these commodities and organized direct public sales at designated centers to ensure consumers could buy them at subsidized prices. The video illustrates the desperation of many Ghanaians, with long queues and crowds rushing for essential items, highlighting the economic challenges of the early 1970s.
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