Ghana government intervenes to resolve tomato supply chain standoff 

The Ghana government has intervened to address persistent disruptions in the tomato supply chain, which have affected farmers’ livelihoods and the steady flow of tomatoes to urban markets. 

The intervention follows weeks of standoff between tomato growers, particularly in Tuobodom in the Bono East Region, and national tomato traders and transporters.  

On Wednesday, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu?Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, met key stakeholder groups to find practical solutions to the impasse disrupting the movement of tomatoes from farms to markets and to restore stability in the sector. 

It formed part of broader government efforts to stabilise agricultural value chains, reduce import dependence and support domestic production. 

Stakeholders cited longstanding challenges such as pricing disputes, high transportation costs, disagreements over measurement, post?harvest losses and limited access to reliable markets.  

They said these issues had disrupted distribution, reduced farmers’ incomes and affected consistent supply to urban centres. 

Mrs Ofosu?Adjare reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a collaborative approach that balanced the interests of farmers, traders and transporters.  

She said improved cooperation across the value chain was essential to restoring confidence, ensuring fair trading practices and strengthening domestic agribusiness. 

The Minister also noted that weak coordination within the sector had compelled traders to rely on tomato imports from neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, despite Ghana’s significant production capacity. 

Representatives of growers, traders and transporters welcomed the engagement, describing it as timely after years of unresolved tensions.  

They expressed optimism that sustained dialogue would lead to improved pricing structures, transportation arrangements and market access. 

Stakeholders highlighted the need for targeted interventions in key tomato?producing centres, particularly Tuobodom in the Techiman North District, which serves as a major aggregation hub. 

Mr Charles Takyi, Chairman of the Tuobodom branch of the Tomato Growers Association, called for a permanent solution to recurring disputes, noting that similar standoffs had occurred at least 16 times in recent years.  

He appealed for support in accessing drought?resistant tomato varieties to enable year?round production. 

Madam Lydia Afoley Anum, General Secretary of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association, emphasised the need for a standardised grading system to ensure fairness in pricing.  

She said improper grading remained a major concern and often led to disputes within the supply chain. 

Also present were Mr Eric Osei Tuffour, National Chairman of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association; Mr Adusei Menash of the Federation of Tomato Growers Associations; and Mr Kwasi Nyarko, Secretary of the Tuobodom Tomato Growers Association. 

Source: GNA 

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