Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare says government will prioritise large-scale local raw material production as Spain-backed agribusiness firm GB Foods Africa expands tomato cultivation and processing in the country, aiming to reduce import dependence and improve food security.
Ofosu-Adjare made the remarks after meeting Spain’s Ambassador to Ghana, Angel Lossada Torres-Quevedo, GB Foods Africa Chief Executive Officer Vicenç Bosch, and other officials in Accra, according to a ministry statement.
The talks focused on strengthening Ghana–Spain cooperation in agribusiness, particularly tomato cultivation and processing, as part of Ghana’s efforts to build domestic supply chains and support industrialisation.
Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo described GB Foods Africa as “one of the most important and reliable agro-business companies” operating across the continent and said its investments deliver broader socio-economic benefits for local communities.
“We are launching important work together regarding the agro-business industry,” he said.
Bosch said the company’s strategy in Ghana is focused on building domestic capacity rather than relying on imports.
“For us, this is about developing the industry where we operate. It is not about importing; it is about building local capacity,” he said.
GB Foods Africa has secured 6,000 acres of land in the Afram Plains for tomato cultivation, more than three times the size of its existing farm in Nigeria, which is among the region’s largest. The company has been piloting tomato farming and processing in Ghana for the past two years, with harvesting expected in the coming weeks.
Bosch said tomato yields remain low across parts of Africa, with some areas averaging five to ten tonnes per acre, compared with about 180 tonnes in China and 140 tonnes in Spain. He said GB Foods has improved yields to between 60 and 70 tonnes per acre in Nigeria. In Ghana, the first-year pilot achieved 20 tonnes per acre, with projections to double to 40 tonnes in the second year.
Bosch said scaling local production will require policy measures to counter competition from low-cost tomato imports, including quota arrangements similar to those used in Senegal and Nigeria.
“We have left all our pieces and now we are waiting for cooperation to make the next move,” he said.
Ofosu-Adjare welcomed the investment, describing it as aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda to strengthen agribusiness and improve food security.
“If you have the industry here but your raw material is somewhere you do not control, when there is a problem there, you suffer,” she said. “We are committed to ensuring that raw materials are produced in Ghana so that food security can be assured.” She said the government will continue discussions with the company on policy options that support expansion while ensuring investment returns.
“It is easy to import. But when you invest in this country, it means you have come to scale. Government also has to perform its side of the bargain,” she said.
The minister also urged the company to share technical expertise with local farmers to improve productivity and quality across the tomato value chain.
