Tomato traders at the bustling Agbogbloshie Market in Accra continue to source tomatoes from Burkina Faso for the Ghanaian market, despite recent security concerns along the route.
The traders maintain that the decision is driven by necessity, as local tomato production remains low outside its peak season, which begins in May.
“We have no option. If we don’t go, there will be no tomatoes in the market. That is how we survive,” one trader told the Daily Graphic in an interview yesterday.
Their concerns followed reported ambush killings on some transit routes in recent months, raising fears among traders who make the cross-border journey.
However, many say the risks, though worrying, have not deterred them due to the need to sustain their businesses and meet consumer demand.
Queenmother’s concern
The Queenmother of the Agbogbloshie Market, Naa Okaitsoo Soyoo I, also acknowledged the risks involved in the cross-border trade but stressed that traders were left with little choice due to supply gaps on the local market.
She expressed deep concern about the increasing exposure of traders to danger and emphasised that the situation reflected broader structural challenges within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Support for local farmers
Naa Okaitsoo Soyoo I further pleaded with the government to heed the persistent calls of Ghanaian farmers by providing the necessary support to expand local tomato production.
She said one of the key interventions needed was improved access to modern and digital farming tools that could enhance productivity and ensure efficiency in farming practices.
She explained that many farmers were willing to produce more but were constrained by limited access to irrigation systems, mechanised equipment, climate-smart technologies and real-time agricultural information.
According to the queenmother, strengthening local production would significantly reduce the need for traders to undertake risky cross-border trips.
Impact on food vendors
The traders explained that Ghana’s tomato supply fluctuates significantly throughout the year, often leading to shortages and sharp price increases.
Checks at major markets show that a large wooden crate of tomatoes currently sells between GH¢1,200 and GH¢3,500, depending on availability and size.
Medium to small crates range between GH¢160 and GH¢500, while a single olonka (bowl) sells as high as GH¢150 in the Agbogbloshie, Kaneshie and Kasoa markets.
The ripple effect of the high cost of fresh tomatoes is being strongly felt by food vendors, who rely heavily on the commodity for daily cooking.
“Fresh tomatoes are very expensive now, so I can’t depend on them alone.
I use more canned tomatoes and then add a small quantity of the fresh ones,” she said.
Other food vendors shared similar experiences, noting that they were constantly adjusting ingredients and quantities to cope with fluctuating prices of key food items.
Price moderation
However, the tomato traders expressed the hope that with the onset of the local harvesting season in May, dependence on imports would reduce, bringing some relief to both traders and consumers.
They appealed to local farmers to moderate their prices when the season begins, noting that high farm-gate prices in previous years had made it difficult for them to buy in bulk.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh