By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Tomato prices have soared sharply in Accra markets after a recent attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso disrupted a key supply route, forcing traders to rely on alternative sources and driving costs higher along the value chain.
Traders report that supplies from Burkina Faso have become too risky, prompting them to source mainly from neighboring Togo. The shift has significantly pushed up wholesale prices, with ripple effects felt at retail level.
At Makola and Agbogbloshie Markets in Accra, Price has increased . A large basket of tomatoes that previously sold for GH¢3,000 is now priced between GH¢8,000 and GH¢9,000. Retail prices have more than doubled, with baskets previously sold at GH¢300 now going for GH¢700 to GH¢800. Retailers sometimes abandon purchases when we quote the new prices.
Traders are calling for government intervention to stabilize supply routes and encourage increased local tomato cultivation to reduce dependency on imports. The government has outlined plans to achieve year-round tomato production in Ghana to limit reliance on imports and avoid future crises.
Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, visited injured traders at the 37 Military Hospital and stressed the importance of local production.
“I do not know how the buying and selling of tomatoes can end somebody’s life. We hope that we are able to produce tomatoes all year round so that this will not happen again,” she stated.
The attack in Burkina Faso has highlighted the vulnerability of Ghana’s tomato supply chain and the urgent need for domestic production solutions to ensure food security and stable prices.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com