The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) has called on government to urgently revive and expand irrigation facilities across the country following a recent attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
The Association said the incident, which involved Ghanaian women travelling to Burkina Faso to purchase tomatoes for the local market, once again exposes the dangers associated with Ghana’s dependence on cross-border sourcing of a key food commodity.
In a statement signed by it’s President, Dr Felix Mawuli Kamassah , VePEAG expressed sadness over the attack and noted that similar incidents have occurred in the past, particularly along trade routes in the Sahel region. According to the Association, these risks underline the need for Ghana to address the structural weaknesses in its tomato production system.
Call to Revamp Irrigation Infrastructure
VePEAG urged government to prioritise the rehabilitation of existing irrigation schemes to support year-round tomato production and reduce the need for traders to travel outside the country.
The Association said revamping irrigation facilities would help meet local demand, stabilise supply and prices, and protect traders from the growing insecurity associated with cross-border trade.
“The recent attack has happened severally in the past, and it reinforces the need for government to revamp the many irrigation facilities across the country for tomato production to meet local demand,” the statement said.
Local Production Seen as Sustainable Solution
VePEAG maintained that Ghana has the capacity to produce sufficient quantities of high-quality tomatoes locally, stressing that the challenge is not a lack of expertise or suitable conditions, but limited investment in production infrastructure.
The Association pledged the support of its members to expand domestic tomato production, saying stronger collaboration between government, farmers and traders would help eliminate the risks involved in sourcing tomatoes from outside the country.
“We strongly believe that the resources and expertise required for the production of high-quality tomatoes are found here in Ghana,” VePEAG stated, calling for immediate action from government and other stakeholders.
Food Security and National Resilience
Industry players say the recurring reliance on imported tomatoes raises broader concerns about food security and national resilience. VePEAG argued that strengthening local production through irrigation-led farming would not only protect traders but also create jobs, improve farmer incomes and reduce Ghana’s exposure to regional instability.
The Association said addressing the root causes of the tomato supply challenge including underutilised irrigation facilities and seasonal production constraints is critical to building a more secure and self-sufficient food system.
A Wake-Up Call for Policy Action
VePEAG described the attack as a wake-up call for policymakers, urging government to link agricultural investment directly to food security and public safety.
According to the Association, boosting local tomato production through irrigation is no longer just an agricultural issue, but a national priority that requires coordinated policy action.
