Ghana’s inflation rose for the fourth consecutive month in December.

ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s consumer inflation increased for the fourth consecutive month in December, to 23.8% year on year from 23.0% in November, according to the statistics agency on Wednesday.

At a press conference, government statistician Samuel Kobina Annim stated that the most recent increase was caused by rising food costs.

“The rate of inflation… is the third highest in the last 13 months and highest in the last eight months,” says Annim.

The West African gold and cocoa powerhouse is fighting to recover from its greatest economic catastrophe in a generation.

President John Dramani Mahama, who was sworn in for his second term on Tuesday, has committed to combat inflation and currency devaluation in order to alleviate Ghana’s cost-of-living issue.