The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, has posited that Burkina Faso’s ban on tomato exports presents a potential opportunity for Ghana.
He noted that this development could generate employment opportunities for the youth while augmenting local production.
According to him, the Ghana EXIM Bank possesses the requisite financial resources to invest in tomato farming, and the country already has access to suitable tomato varieties.
Dr Asiama noted in an interview on Citi TV that concerted efforts between government institutions and financial agencies would be pivotal in resolving the tomato supply challenges and ensuring the crisis yields economic benefits for Ghana.
“The risks posed by the Burkina Faso crisis to me are opportunities. We decided to set up a small group, and we’re going to work with the Ministry of Agriculture. We will work with GEXIM and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). The thing is, if Burkina Faso bans exports of tomatoes, why should it become a crisis in Ghana?
“We have five hundred thousand young people looking for work to do. We have money with the Ghana EXIM Bank, and we have the varieties. What are we waiting for? GEXIM, we were going to give you a call. We are all going to descend and get these things solved,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana