Tomato traders in Accra say rising transportation and storage costs are keeping prices high, even as farmers report a bumper harvest in parts of the Northern and Bono East regions.
At Kasoa and Agbogbloshie markets, a small basket of tomatoes sells for between GH¢ 220 and GH¢ 250, far above the GH¢ 120 to GH¢ 150 range recorded around the same time last year.
Traders argue that high haulage fees and poor preservation facilities continue to erode any benefit of increased production.
“Even though the farmers are producing more, transporting tomatoes from the farm gates to Accra costs almost the same as the produce itself. On top of that, we lose a lot along the way because of heat and bad roads,” said Aunty Yaa Asare, a trader at Kasoa market.
Another trader at Agbogbloshie, Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan, explained that consumers are feeling the pinch, with many reducing their weekly purchases.
“People now buy half baskets instead of full ones. The price is too high, and sales are discouraging. Farmers bring plenty, but we cannot sell them quickly because there is no cold storage,” he said.
Meanwhile, farmers insist that the bumper harvest has actually reduced farmgate prices.
“The prices at the farms are lower this season. A crate that used to sell at GH¢ 200 now goes for GH¢ 120. The problem is that middlemen and transport charges push prices back up before they reach the consumer,” Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan said.
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana has called for investment in cold chain systems and affordable transport to address post-harvest losses and ease price pressures on consumers.
“Every year we go through the same cycle. Without storage facilities, traders rush to sell, and consumers still pay more. Government support for logistics and preservation is key,” the association said.
Until then, both farmers and traders fear that tomatoes will continue rotting in the fields and on trucks, while urban households struggle to afford the staple.
