The popular refrain on the street currently is that, "times are hard." In Twi, they say "krom ayɛ hye, ɛnkƆ yie!!"

As demonstrated by persons interviewed in JoyNews' Living Standard Series, many Ghanaians have lamented over economic hardships and called on the government to do something about the situation.

On Friday's edition of the Super Morning Show, the hosts sought to find out from members of the general public how they are coping.

The majority of the callers answered affirmatively to the question.

They highlighted unemployment, hikes in fuel prices, high cost of living, poor infrastructure, among others, as major challenges that urgently need to be addressed.

The first caller, Rukaya from Haatso, lamented over the increase in prices of goods and said this has largely affected her. According to her, she has resorted to cutting down on some expenses to help her survive.

"I went to a shop to buy sardines which we usually buy at GH₵4. When I went to a shop to buy some yesterday, there had been an increase of GH₵1 cedi in the price, it is now selling at GH₵5. I immediately changed my mind and went back to eat my food as it was. It's just unnecessary calculation, but yet still you have to survive for the next day," she said.

Apparently, another caller, Yaa, has been experiencing tough times as well. 

According to her, she can no longer enjoy a Kenkey meal at an affordable cost. “If I want to eat Kenkey now, it will cost me GH₵15. The kids haven’t been factored in yet,” she said.

She also lamented over how the price of an insecticide she purchased recently has recorded an increase of about one-third.

“I bought this mosquito spray at GH₵21 and the next time, just about a few days later, the price had shot up to 30 cedis. How?” a baffled Yaa, decried and concluded that “things are hard.”

The third caller, Papa Bissue, said "this government is not fair to the ordinary Ghanaian. The resources we have, we are not enjoying them and day in and day out, they are increasing the prices. I'm talking relative to the three oil fields that we have. We only experience increases in fuel prices," he said.

John, from Lawra on the other hand entreated the general public to be patient with the government since according to him, the Covid-19 pandemic has played a role in these hardships.

"If not because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ghana wouldn't be like this," he said.

William, who called from Buduburam, however, propounded solutions to the situation.

"I'm not a professor but to manage this, I think we should manufacture, reduce import, increase export and reduce debt," he said.