The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) has characterised Burkina Faso’s recent ban on tomato exports as an expected development that local authorities failed to anticipate or address.
According to the Association, Ghana possessed all the necessary foresight to prepare for this outcome but ultimately chose to ignore the warning signs.
Dr Felix Kamassah, President of the Association, has called on the government to take immediate and strategic action following the Burkinabè government’s suspension of exports. In a joint statement issued in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso announced an immediate nationwide halt on tomato exports “until further notice” to prioritise domestic supply for its own local processing industries.
This directive also suspends the issuance of special export authorisations (ASE), effectively closing formal export channels. While traders with existing permits have been granted a two-week window to finalise ongoing transactions, all authorisations will be revoked thereafter.
Warning of an imminent price hike, Dr Kamassah noted that costs will likely rise as traders are forced to source fresh tomatoes from alternative markets such as Togo and Nigeria. He urged the government to collaborate with stakeholders and researchers to develop a framework for national tomato self-sufficiency.
During an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Dr Kamassah emphasised that the relatively short production cycle of tomatoes offers a unique opportunity for rapid intervention. When questioned why Ghana, with its vast arable land, remains dependent on a desert nation like Burkina Faso, he attributed the imbalance to differences in climate conditions and the specific varieties of tomatoes grown in each region.
“So this is the time we have to be thinking,” Dr Kamassah stated. Burkina is a desert country, but see the massive things they are doing. We need to change our mindset because this is a national issue. The ban should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to invest in sustainable local production and reduce reliance on imports.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
