Tomato war brewing in Accra

There are fears of a national crisis over tomatoes if a ban on importation of the vegetable from Burkina Faso to Ghana is implemented. This will be possible if the judicial committee of the Ga Traditional Council threatens to invoke a ban on the importation of tomatoes until complaints lodged by the Ghana Tomato Traders Association over a rival association is fully resolved. The Association has complained that contrary to laid down procedures and regulations, a rival group, the Ghana Agricultural Producers and Traders Organisation (GAPTO) is opening up branches at Agbogbloshie and CMB markets without authorization. The committee was told by the secretary of the recognized Ghana Tomato Traders Association, Madam Lydia Afoley Annang that the activities of these traders are denying the government and the association of taxes and levies. Last Friday the committee ruled at the Ga Mantse Palace that if the rival association misbehaves the ban will be imposed immediately until a final determination of the complaints. The Nungua Mantse, King Odaifio Welentsi, who is a member of the committee, told the GNA that one Haruna Agesheka one time leader the original association is behind the activities of the rival one and has been summoned to appear before the committee on Monday.