National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has urged Ghanaian tomato farmers to transition toward varieties suitable for industrial processing, arguing that a mismatch between what farmers grow and what factories need is costing the country both produce and foreign exchange.
Speaking during the Greater Accra Region Thank You Tour, at Ada Constituency, Asiedu Nketia pointed out that while farmers frequently produce large tomato surpluses, they still struggle to find buyers, even as Ghana continues to import tomatoes and processed tomato products. He explained that the disconnect stems from factories requiring specific paste-grade varieties that most local farmers do not currently grow.
Even when tomatoes are produced locally, there is often an oversupply and difficulty in finding buyers. The real issue is that, despite our tomato production, Ghana still imports tomatoes. Factories that use tomatoes require a specific type, so unless we grow that particular variety, our tomatoes end up rotting while other tomatoes are imported, he said.
The NDC Chairman called on agricultural stakeholders to identify precisely what varieties industries and hotels require so that farmers can align production with market demand. He argued that producing the right tomato varieties for processing would support local factories, reduce unnecessary imports, and create employment for young Ghanaians.
The remarks come at a sensitive moment for Ghana’s tomato supply chain. Eight Ghanaian tomato traders were killed in a jihadist attack in Burkina Faso in February while sourcing cheaper produce across the border, an incident that drew sharp criticism of the structural gaps in domestic food production and reignited debate about Ghana’s continued dependence on foreign tomato supplies despite having a significant domestic farming base.
Ghana currently imports hundreds of millions of dollars in food products annually, including processed tomato paste, that analysts say the country has the agricultural capacity to produce locally.
On her part, Hon. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe MP for Ada Constituency, thanked the chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia for what he has done for her during 2024 general elections.
She said, chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia supported her, made her who she today, God richly bless chairman Johnson Asiedu.
Nene Kabutey Assem III Rep of Nene Akuaku III, Ada matse on behalf of Ada traditional council, appeal to NDC government to do everything possible to create jobs for the youth of Ada to do, the youth of Ada need jobs.
He therefore urged the government to construct their roads, all roads in Ada are deplorable state which affects the economy activities in the area.
