Government has brokered a truce between rival tomato trader associations, ending a dispute that has disrupted domestic supply chains for more than two years and adding momentum to efforts to stabilise food prices in one of the country’s most sensitive consumer markets.
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association (GNTTTA) and the Ghana Cargo Owners and Tomato Traders Association (GCOTTA ). The agreement establishes a unified framework for coordinating tomato distribution, pricing and logistics nationwide, with support from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service.
The deal closes a standoff that began in May 2023 after GCOTTA petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, triggering tensions that spilled into transport bottlenecks, market access restrictions and pricing distortions across the tomato value chain. The signing, held at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, underscores the state’s growing role in mediating commercial disputes with economy-wide implications.
The consensus was reached through mediation led by the Ministry’s Domestic Trade Directorate, headed by Cynthia Djokoto, with operational backing from the Police MTTD. The department was represented at the ceremony by Commissioner of Police David Agyemang Adjem, Director-General of Administration, on behalf of the MTTD leadership.
Adjem described the agreement as a turning point for cooperation in the sector and urged strict adherence to its terms, assuring traders of continued police support if disputes re-emerge.
Officials at the Trade Ministry said the agreement supports government efforts to stabilise tomato supply and pricing, a key driver of food inflation given the commodity’s prominence in household consumption. They said persistent value-chain disputes have previously amplified price volatility and post-harvest losses.
Under the MoU, the two associations committed to coordinated and transparent pricing mechanisms, improved logistics planning and transport scheduling, reduced losses linked to oversupply, enhanced market access and efficiency, and regular dialogue supported by structured dispute resolution.
Djokoto said the agreement addressed structural weaknesses in the sector. “The formalisation of cooperation between GNTTTA and GCOTTA is a critical milestone in addressing longstanding challenges within Ghana’s tomato value chain. We anticipate that effective implementation of this MoU will improve supply reliability, enhance price stability, and significantly reduce post-harvest losses, thereby strengthening the domestic agribusiness sector,” she said.
The Ministry said it will maintain oversight of the agreement in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, signalling a more interventionist approach to resolving value-chain disruptions that directly affect inflation, trader incomes and the performance of domestic agribusiness.
