By Sarah Baafi
Ghana is losing an estimated GHS 5.7 billion annually, equivalent to about 1.2 per cent of GDP, due to tomato import dependency, post-harvest losses and limited value addition, according to new data released by the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana and its partners.
The findings were presented in Accra on February 16, 2026, during the unveiling of the National Tomato Production Strategy (2026–2030), developed in response to growing economic losses in the sector and renewed concerns about the safety of Ghanaian tomato traders following a recent terrorist attack in Burkina Faso.
Research commissioned by the Chamber shows that Ghana spends between GHS 650 million and GHS 760 million each year importing fresh tomatoes and tomato paste, placing the country among the world’s largest importers of tomato paste.
The report estimates additional losses of GHS 180–220 million in foregone tax revenues, GHS 175–250 million worth of tomatoes lost annually to spoilage due to inadequate storage, and up to GHS 4.5 billion in potential wages that could be earned if the sector were fully developed.
Speaking at the launch, Anthony Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, described the situation as both an economic and human crisis, noting that traders continue to risk their lives crossing insecure borders to source tomatoes that could be produced locally. He said the Burkina Faso incident underscored the urgency of building a self-sufficient domestic supply chain.
The strategy aims to create 200,000 jobs, largely for young people, across farming, processing, cold-chain management, logistics and agribusiness entrepreneurship. It proposes training 35,000 young farmers, 15,000 cold-chain technicians, 35,000 processing plant workers and 20,000 logistics workers, alongside the establishment of a GHS 200 million Youth Agri-Entrepreneurship Fund to support youth-led tomato businesses.
According to Akosua Frimpong, Director of Youth Programmes, the initiative is designed to provide sustainable employment, technical skills and steady incomes while strengthening food security and reducing reliance on imports.
Under the plan, Ghana is expected to cut tomato paste imports from more than USD 100 million annually to USD 20 million by 2030, increase the use of locally grown tomatoes by processors from 7 per cent to 85 per cent, and construct 50 cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes to address post-harvest losses estimated at 30–45 per cent of production.
The five-year strategy requires an investment of GHS 3.2 billion, but projections indicate annual economic gains of more than GHS 5 billion by 2030, driven by import savings, increased tax revenues, reduced losses, export earnings and wages circulating within the local economy.
Stakeholders said immediate steps will include presenting the strategy to the President and Cabinet for approval, establishing a national steering committee, opening a youth registration portal, beginning construction of the first 10 cold storage facilities in the second quarter of 2026, and providing emergency financial support to families affected by the Burkina Faso attack.
The Chamber called on government, the private sector and the public to support the initiative, warning that failure to act would mean continued economic losses, high unemployment and ongoing risks to the lives of Ghanaian traders.
