Tomato prices in Ghana are expected to stabilize gradually even as lingering supply shocks from recent regional insecurity continue to affect the market, leaders of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association have said.
Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, the association’s leader, Nana Tuffuor, reassured consumers and market stakeholders that the current high prices are the result of temporary disruptions in the supply chain and should ease as trade routes normalize.
Mr Tuffuor explained that tomato prices are fundamentally driven by the balance between supply and demand, noting that the current spike reflected a sharp imbalance caused by interrupted imports. “When demand is high and supply is constrained, prices automatically go up. This will be a gradual process,” he said, while urging patience from consumers.
The disruption followed a deadly terrorist ambush in Titao, northern Burkina Faso on 14 February, where at least seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed while transporting goods along major trade corridors. Survivors were evacuated for medical care, and the attack sent shockwaves through cross-border tomato trade, which supplies markets in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and other urban centers.
The tragic incident has reduced the flow of tomatoes from Burkina Faso a key source during lean production periods contributing to shortages and elevated prices in local markets. Traders have since sought alternative suppliers, at higher cost, to keep stalls stocked.
Mr Tuffuor said the association is collaborating with transporters and market operators to mitigate risks and keep goods moving. He emphasized that the heightened prices are temporary and tied to the prevailing security situation and supply constraints. “Once trade stabilizes, we expect the prices to return to more manageable levels,” he explained.
To enhance traders’ safety and facilitate commerce, authorities have escalated diplomatic and security engagements with counterparts in Burkina Faso, with the aim of securing safer passage along key trade routes.
Despite these assurances, the episode has reignited broader concerns about Ghana’s dependence on imported fresh tomatoes and the vulnerability of its food supply to regional disruptions. Analysts and stakeholders have called for expanded domestic production and investment in local processing to reduce reliance on external sources a challenge that remains on the national policy agenda.