Ghana has welcomed Burkina Faso’s decision to lift its suspension on fresh tomato exports, a move expected to ease supply pressures and bring stability to local markets.
The ban, which was announced on March 19, 2026, by Burkinabe authorities, had worsened Ghana’s tomato shortage, driving up prices and straining both consumers and local processors.
In a statement issued on April 2, 2026, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry described the reversal as a positive outcome of ongoing bilateral discussions between the two countries. Officials noted that one of five high-level meetings between Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and her Burkinabe counterparts during the WTO MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, directly contributed to the removal of trade restrictions.
The Ministry assured Ghanaians that it would continue working closely with Burkinabe authorities and domestic stakeholders to maintain a smooth, mutually beneficial trading environment.
At the same time, efforts to strengthen Ghana’s domestic tomato sector are being stepped up. Programs like Feed the Industry and Feed Ghana are designed to boost local production, improve yields, and ensure a stable supply of tomatoes throughout the year. Targeted interventions, including irrigation projects and the allocation of suitable lands for large-scale cultivation, aim to support year-round production and promote backward integration with processing companies.
The Ministry called on tomato traders and industry partners to cooperate with government measures to protect both consumers and local processors, emphasizing that these steps are part of a broader strategy to safeguard Ghana’s agricultural industries while promoting sustainable growth.
