GSA boss advocates investment in agriculture to reduce tomato imports

By Samuel SAM

Acting Chief Executive-Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has expressed concern over Ghana’s heavy reliance on Burkina Faso for tomato imports despite the country’s potential to produce its own.

During a working visit to Paga in Upper East Region, Prof. Gyampo observed several trucks carrying tomatoes from Burkina Faso into Ghana and questioned why local farmers were not being supported to meet the country’s demand.

“If Burkina Faso, with less fertile land, can produce and supply other countries, Ghana can also invest in agriculture to grow organic vegetables, feed local industries and even export for revenue,” he said.

He stressed that Burkina Faso’s government has deliberately encouraged farming by providing irrigation and support services, allowing farmers to cultivate crops efficiently. In contrast, Ghana, with its fertile soil and better climate, has not made similar investments.

“We often rely on rainfall, but when it doesn’t come farming suffers. Meanwhile, a country with poorer soil and harsher weather conditions is feeding us. This is worrying,” he noted.

Prof. Gyampo urged government, under President John Mahama’s leadership, to invest in irrigation facilities and other interventions to promote farming.

“We must act now so that by end of Mahama’s second term we can say Ghana is producing its own tomatoes instead of importing from Burkina Faso,” he stated.

While noting the need for Ghana’s self-sufficiency, he also acknowledged the importance of maintaining good trade relations with Burkina Faso. He urged the country to learn from its northern neighbour’s strategies to boost tomato and vegetable production for economic growth.

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