The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has issued a strong call for immediate government intervention following Burkina Faso’s ban on the export of fresh tomatoes beyond its borders, warning that Ghana must act swiftly to secure its food supply.
In a detailed policy statement, the Chamber outlined seven key actions it says must be implemented within 30 days to drive a national tomato self-sufficiency agenda and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports.
At the heart of the proposal is a call for a presidential declaration to establish a National Tomato Emergency Strategy as a time-bound food security mission. The Chamber is also pushing for the appointment of a National Strategy Director within the Office of the President and the formation of an inter-ministerial coordination committee to oversee implementation.
The group is further urging Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to allocate at least GH¢ 430 million in the 2026 Supplementary Budget to fund critical interventions, including irrigation rehabilitation, cold chain infrastructure, processing plant revival, and farmer support systems.
To attract private sector participation, the Chamber wants the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to launch the Grow Ghana Agro-Corporate Partnership Framework (GGACPF) within 30 days. The initiative aims to engage at least 50 local and international investors and secure 15 anchor corporate partnerships within two months.
On infrastructure, the Chamber is calling for the emergency rehabilitation of the Tono and Vea irrigation schemes, alongside the deployment of 15,000 hectares of solar-powered drip irrigation systems across the Savannah corridor to boost year-round tomato production.
The proposals also include protective trade measures, with a recommendation for government to revise tomato paste import tariffs to the maximum allowed under ECOWAS rules and initiate anti-dumping investigations into imports from China and the European Union.
In addition, the Chamber is advocating the creation of a Tomato Sector Emergency Finance Window at the Agricultural Development Bank, with an initial capital of GHS 120 million to provide credit, insurance, and equipment leasing for farmers.
It also called for government to engage international development partners, including IFAD, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank, to support a long-term investment plan that will sustain gains made under the emergency programme.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Anthony Kofituo Morrison, described Burkina Faso’s export restriction as a wake-up call rather than a setback.
“Burkina Faso’s export ban is not Ghana’s misfortune — it is Ghana’s instruction. It is the clearest signal in a generation that this country must build the food security infrastructure it has long delayed,” he said.
He stressed that Ghana already has the land, farmers, water, and market needed to achieve tomato sufficiency, but lacks the coordinated strategic commitment to fully utilise these resources.
The Chamber has pledged to lead private sector mobilisation through the proposed partnership framework, while holding both government and corporate stakeholders accountable to a 12-month timeline for achieving results.
The call comes amid growing concerns over Ghana’s reliance on imported tomatoes, particularly from neighbouring Burkina Faso, whose export ban has heightened fears of supply shortages and price increases on the local market.
The Chamber insists that with decisive action, the current disruption could be transformed into an opportunity to reset Ghana’s agricultural priorities and build a more resilient, self-sufficient tomato sector.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com