The Government of Ghana has welcomed Burkina Faso’s decision to lift its suspension on the issuance of Special Export Authorizations (ASE) for fresh tomatoes, in a move expected to ease supply pressures and support stability in Ghana’s local tomato market.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MOTAI), the government said the development marks a positive turn in cross-border agricultural trade and reflects progress in ongoing bilateral engagements between the two countries.
According to the ministry, Burkina Faso’s decision followed improvements in the supply situation for its local processing units, as well as stakeholder commitments to ensure tomatoes remain available for “domestic industrial use.”
The reopening is expected to restore the flow of fresh tomatoes into Ghana at a time when market supply and pricing remain sensitive to disruptions in regional trade.
The government said the outcome also highlights the value of recent diplomatic and trade-level engagements. It noted that one of the five bilateral meetings held by Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and her Burkinabe counterparts on the sidelines of the WTO MC14 has already produced “an immediate result” with the removal of the restriction.
The ministry said it will continue to work with relevant state institutions and Burkinabe authorities to ensure what it described as a “smooth and mutually beneficial trading environment” between both countries.
The government of Ghana said it remains focused on strengthening Ghana’s domestic tomato industry and reducing long-term vulnerability to supply shocks.
MOTAI said ongoing interventions under the Feed the Industry and Feed Ghana programmes are being intensified to “boost local production,” improve yields and support a more stable supply of tomatoes from Ghanaian farmers.
As part of that effort, the government said targeted interventions are being rolled out across the tomato value chain, including irrigation projects by the Ministry of Agriculture to support year-round cultivation.
The ministry added that discussions are also underway with processors to encourage “backward integration,” while suitable land is being made available for large-scale tomato production to serve both industrial processors and the domestic market.
The government is also urging tomato traders and other market actors to align with these efforts as authorities continue to implement measures aimed at protecting consumers while supporting local industry players.
The development offers short-term relief for traders and consumers, but also reinforces the policy challenge facing Ghana: how to maintain regional supply access while accelerating investment in domestic agribusiness and food processing capacity.
