Ghana’s Agriculture Minister has rejected suggestions that his ministry is idle in the face of the tomato supply crisis triggered by Burkina Faso’s export ban, hitting back at a 90-day ultimatum issued by the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) and revealing that President John Mahama has personally directed the sector to accelerate its response.
Speaking on Adom FM, the minister said it was troubling to hear claims that the ministry was doing nothing, stressing that government procurement and funding approval processes must be followed before any large-scale agricultural intervention can be deployed.
The minister disclosed that President Mahama reached out to the ministry directly after the ban took effect, advising that production efforts be scaled up urgently in response to the emergency.
Ministry cites variety breakthrough
The minister pushed back on the perception that Ghana’s domestic tomato supply cannot compete with imports, arguing that the ministry had already addressed one of the most persistent complaints from traders and processors.
Consultations with market women and importers had previously revealed that local tomato varieties spoiled too quickly due to high water content, making them unsuitable for large-scale trade. The ministry subsequently supported the development of improved varieties that the minister said now outperform the tomatoes previously imported from Burkina Faso.
On irrigation, the minister acknowledged that a full-scale rollout would take time, but said interim measures were already underway. The government has begun installing solar-powered boreholes for farmers as an alternative while broader irrigation expansion is pursued, with funding discussions ongoing between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance.
FABAG’s ultimatum
FABAG’s Chairman, John Awuni, issued the ultimatum earlier this week, warning that if the ministry cannot organise nationwide tomato production under irrigation within 90 days, the government should consider dissolving the ministry and replacing it with a results-focused agricultural authority.
The government had separately directed the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) to fast-track dry-season tomato production schemes, with Deputy Minister John Dumelo disclosing a target of between 200,000 and 300,000 metric tonnes of dry-season tomatoes within two to three years, against Ghana’s annual demand of approximately 800,000 metric tonnes.
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has confirmed that diplomatic discussions with Burkina Faso are being prepared to seek a resolution to the export ban, which took effect on March 16, 2026.
The tomato crisis has intensified pressure on the government to demonstrate measurable progress on food self-sufficiency, with FABAG framing the shortage not only as an agricultural failure but as a national security vulnerability.
