Crop research scientists have warned that Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes from neighbouring Burkina Faso and other countries will persist unless urgent measures are taken to strengthen local production.
Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, a scientist at the CSIR–Crop Research Institute, explained that domestic tomato farmers currently lack the capacity to meet the food demands of Ghana’s rapidly growing population. Contrary to public perception, he noted, Burkina Faso accounts for less than 30 percent of tomato imports, with the majority coming from Europe and China.
The influx of imported tomatoes, Dr. Osei said, has undermined local farmers, forcing many to abandon tomato cultivation in favour of other crops such as pepper and rice.
“Upper East used to cultivate tomatoes in large quantity but when they saw the influx of tomatoes from Burkina Faso, most of them changed from tomatoes to cultivation of pepper and rice,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, farmers in Akomadan in the Ashanti Region, one of Ghana’s major tomato-producing hubs, have been grappling with a tomato glut in the last quarter of 2025. The situation has raised concerns about poor market access, inadequate processing facilities, and the inability to stabilise prices, leaving producers struggling to sustain their livelihoods.
Experts say urgent investment in processing infrastructure, better storage, and targeted support for local farmers is critical to reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports and ensuring food security.
