Ghana Urged to Boost Tomato Production After Burkina Faso Export Ban
The President of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG), Dr Felix Kamassah, has called for urgent measures to increase local tomato production following Burkina Faso’s suspension of tomato exports to Ghana.
The Burkinabè authorities, in a joint statement issued in Ouagadougou, announced an immediate nationwide halt on tomato exports “until further notice” to prioritise domestic supply for local processing factories.
The directive also suspended the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE), effectively closing formal export channels.
Traders holding existing permits have been given a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions before all authorisations are revoked. Authorities warned that violations would attract sanctions under current laws and any seized consignments would be redirected to domestic processing factories.
Speaking in a media interview, Dr Kamassah described the development as both a challenge and an opportunity for Ghana to reassess its agricultural priorities.
He noted that while the situation presents immediate difficulties, it should serve as a wake-up call for the government to work closely with stakeholders and agricultural researchers to develop sustainable, long-term solutions for tomato production.
“Tomatoes remain a very important commodity in Ghanaian homes, forming the base for many meals,” Dr Kamassah said, emphasising that any disruption in supply could directly affect households and food prices nationwide.
He therefore urged immediate collaboration between the government, farmers and industry players to address the issue both in the short and long term.
Dr Kamassah highlighted that Ghana already has established tomato-growing regions that require government support in areas such as irrigation, access to inputs, and market facilitation. He added that the relatively short production cycle of tomatoes two to three months presents an opportunity for quick intervention.
“The government must act now to protect existing crops while putting long-term measures in place,” he said.
The VEPEAG President stressed that the current disruption should push Ghana to invest in sustainable local production and reduce reliance on imports from neighbouring countries.
This development has reignited calls for targeted policy interventions aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chain and ensuring national food security in the face of external supply shocks.
