Ghana Unveils Strategic 12-Month Roadmap to End Tomato Import Reliance Following Burkina Faso Export Ban

The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has launched a comprehensive 12-month National Tomato Emergency Strategy aimed at revitalizing the country’s tomato sector and achieving year-round food sufficiency. This initiative comes as a direct response to Burkina Faso's recent ban on fresh tomato exports, a move that significantly threatens Ghana’s food security, as the nation traditionally relies on its neighbor for up to 90% of its dry-season tomato needs. The roadmap seeks to bridge the current supply gap of 290,000 metric tonnes, moving the country toward a target of over 800,000 metric tonnes in annual local production.

The proposed transformation will be executed across seven distinct phases, beginning with the establishment of legal and financial frameworks, including a requested GH¢ 430 million allocation and the formation of an inter-ministerial committee. Key technical components of the plan include the assessment and optimization of major irrigation schemes to cover 15,000 hectares, the enrollment of 50,000 farmers into specialized cooperatives, and the development of agro-industrial zones. Furthermore, the strategy aims to institute a revised tomato paste tariff regime and establish regional cooling centers to minimize post-harvest losses, ultimately targeting a 40% reduction in processed tomato paste imports.

Industry experts, including Dr. Charles Nyaaba, CEO of Akuafo Nketewa, have characterized Burkina Faso’s export halt as a pivotal opportunity rather than a crisis. Dr. Nyaaba argues that Ghana possesses the same production conditions as its neighbor and that the decline in local output was historically driven by market challenges and past policy failures rather than a lack of capacity. He emphasizes that with the right investments in quality seeds and irrigation, Ghanaian farmers—who already provide sufficient supply for the majority of the year—can easily scale up to meet the nation's total demand within one to two years.

The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana emphasizes that the success of this rapid transformation depends heavily on a presidential endorsement and strong collaboration between the government and the private sector. By focusing on protective trade policies and enhanced distribution networks, the roadmap positions Ghana to build a resilient agricultural value chain that can withstand regional supply disruptions. If successfully implemented, the initiative will not only secure the domestic food supply but also stabilize prices for consumers and protect the livelihoods of thousands of traders and farmers across the country.