The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Abraham Otabil, has indicated that Ghana is on track to reduce—and eventually eliminate—its reliance on tomato imports from Burkina Faso.
Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Otabil noted that deliberate policies and ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture are aimed at boosting local production to meet national demand.
“With the measures we are putting in place, it’s possible that a time will come when Ghana will no longer go to Burkina Faso to import tomatoes,” he stated.
His remarks follow Burkina Faso’s decision to lift its suspension on fresh tomato exports to Ghana after consultations with Ghanaian authorities and sector stakeholders in Morocco. Confirming the development, Mr. Otabil said, “The ban has been fully lifted, and our traders can now import tomatoes from Burkina Faso again.”
Despite the relief, he emphasized that the government remains committed to strengthening local capacity. “We are still working on the President’s directive, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, to improve tomato farming through irrigation systems, dams, and increased investment to boost production,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Tomato Importers Association, Eric Osei Tuffuor, welcomed the move and commended the sector minister for her efforts. “We commend the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry for her role in ensuring that this ban is lifted. It is a positive development for the sector,” he said.
However, he cautioned against complacency, urging sustained national effort toward self-sufficiency. “This should not make us relax as a country. We must continue to put in place strong measures to improve local tomato production and reduce our dependence on imports,” he stressed.’
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