Ghana welcomes Burkina Faso’s reversal of tomato export ban

Ghana has expressed relief following a decision by Burkina Faso to lift its recent suspension on fresh tomato exports, a move expected to ease supply shortages and bring some stability to local markets.

The restriction, imposed on March 19 by Burkinabé authorities, had worsened supply constraints in Ghana, triggering concerns among traders and consumers.

Describing the reversal as a breakthrough, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry said the outcome reflects sustained diplomatic and trade engagements between the two countries.

In a statement issued on April 2, 2026, the Ministry disclosed that the lifting of the ban was influenced by high level discussions held between Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and her Burkinabé counterparts during the WTO MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The Ministry assured the public of its commitment to working closely with authorities in Burkina Faso and local stakeholders to sustain a predictable and mutually beneficial trading relationship.

It also indicated that efforts to strengthen Ghana’s domestic tomato value chain are being stepped up to reduce reliance on imports. Programmes such as Feed the Industry and Feed Ghana are being intensified to increase production, improve yields and ensure consistent supply.

According to the Ministry, targeted measures including irrigation expansion and the release of land for large scale cultivation are being rolled out to support all year round farming and promote stronger linkages between farmers and processors.

Stakeholders within the tomato trade have been urged to support government interventions aimed at protecting consumers while strengthening local processing capacity.

Government maintains that these measures form part of a broader strategy to build resilience in the agricultural sector while promoting sustainable growth.