Trader Killings in Burkina Faso Spark Food Security Alarm
By: Maame Efua Kwaduah
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has described the recent killing of Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso as a tragic event that underscores the country’s growing vulnerability in food supply. The association warned that the incident could disrupt tomato imports and push prices sharply upward.
In a press statement, PFAG President Wepia Addo Awal Adugwala and other executives, the farmers emphasised that Ghana’s heavy reliance on Burkina Faso for tomatoes leaves the nation exposed. They noted that any interruption in cross-border trade could make this staple unaffordable for many households.
The association stressed that the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to reconsider its agricultural strategy and pursue self-sufficiency not only in tomatoes but across the broader vegetable value chain. Ghana spent over $22.3 million on tomato imports in 2024 alone, with more than 90 percent sourced from Burkina Faso. The country’s annual demand for tomatoes is estimated at 800,000 metric tonnes, while domestic production ranges between 370,000 and 420,000 metric tonnes, leaving a substantial deficit that must be filled through imports.
According to PFAG, the production shortfall is not a natural occurrence but stems from policy weaknesses and inadequate prioritisation. Overreliance on rain-fed farming, due to insufficient irrigation infrastructure, continues to limit output. The farmers also highlighted post-harvest losses, estimating that 30 to 50 percent of Ghana’s tomatoes are lost because of poor storage facilities, inadequate processing plants, and substandard road networks, undermining both farmers’ incomes and national food security.
The association called on the government to treat the situation as a national emergency and implement urgent measures. This includes providing a time-bound roadmap and dedicated funding to complete the Irrigation for Wealth Programme. PFAG also urged the speedy construction of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam and recommended supplementing large-scale projects with boreholes and subsidised solar-powered irrigation pumps to enable year-round production in major farming districts.
The farmers further proposed establishing strategic agricultural enclaves for commercial vegetable cultivation, including tomatoes and onions, in selected agro-ecological zones. These enclaves should be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to attract private sector investment. PFAG also urged the government to lower production costs by resourcing research institutions to develop disease-resistant and market-preferred seeds and by encouraging fertiliser companies and other input suppliers to reduce prices.
Additionally, the association called for a national strategy to address post-harvest losses, including mass recruitment of extension officers, improvement of feeder roads linking farms to markets, establishment of storage and cold chain facilities, and the rehabilitation or creation of tomato processing factories to stabilise prices during surplus periods.
“We urge that the country build a resilient agricultural system that ensures no Ghanaian farmer or consumer is left at the mercy of such precarious circumstances. Let’s save the Ghanaian farmer and secure Ghana’s future,” the statement noted.
