Ghana’s Government, through the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, has welcomed Burkina Faso’s decision to suspend the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE) for fresh tomatoes.
The move follows improvements in supply to local processing units in Burkina Faso, as well as commitments by stakeholders to boost production for domestic industrial use.
The decision was announced in a joint communiqué issued by the relevant Burkinabe authorities.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry said the development was expected to ease the flow of fresh tomatoes into Ghana and help stabilise supply on the local market.
“This positive outcome also reflects the effectiveness of ongoing bilateral engagements between Ghana and Burkina Faso,” it said.
The statement noted that one of five key bilateral meetings between the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, and her Burkinabe counterparts was held on the margins of the WTO MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Ministry would continue to engage its Burkinabe counterparts and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth and mutually beneficial trading environment.
The Government, it added, remained committed to implementing measures to safeguard local industries and strengthen the domestic tomato value chain.
The statement said ongoing programmes, including the “Feed the Industry” and “Feed Ghana” initiatives, were being intensified to boost local production, improve yields, and ensure a stable and sustainable supply of tomatoes.
It noted that targeted interventions were being rolled out across the value chain, including irrigation projects by the Ministry of Agriculture to support year-round production.
Engagements with processors were ongoing to promote backward integration, while suitable lands were being made available for large-scale tomato cultivation to supply both processors and the domestic market.
The Ministry encouraged tomato traders and other stakeholders to collaborate with the Government as efforts continued to protect consumers and industry players.
The ban on export of tomatoes from Burkina Faso was announced on March 19 by the Bukinabé authorities, a development that deepened supply challenges in Ghana.
GNA
