GB Foods expands tomato farming in Ghana with 2,428Ha concession

GHANA – GB Foods Africa has secured nearly 2,428 hectares of land in Ghana’s Eastern Region to grow industrial tomatoes, strengthening its supply base in a country that still relies heavily on imports.

Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry announced on February 17 that the Spanish group’s African arm acquired the concession in the Afram Plains. The land will supply GB Foods Ghana, the local unit of Spain based GB Foods.

The new farm will rank among the company’s largest in West Africa. Although the firm did not disclose the cost or farming model, the move shows its plan to secure more raw materials for tomato paste production in Ghana.

GB Foods has operated a tomato processing plant in Tema since 2023. The company invested US$5 million in the facility, which produces its “Gino” and “Pomo” tomato paste brands for the local market.

Vicenç Bosch, CEO of GB Foods Africa, said the company wants to grow the sector within the countries where it operates. “For us, it’s about growing the industry where we operate. It is not a question of importing; it’s about building local capacity,” he said.

His comments reflect Ghana’s wider effort to cut food imports and support domestic production.

Import bill remains high

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Ghana imported an average of 54,361 tonnes of tomato puree each year between 2020 and 2024. The country spent an average of US$54.4 million per year on those imports during that period, with the bill reaching US$85.4 million in 2024.

Ghana ranks as West Africa’s fourth largest tomato producer after Nigeria, Guinea and Niger. Despite this output, seasonal gaps and supply chain limits have kept processors dependent on foreign supplies.

By expanding its farming base, GB Foods aims to replace part of those imports with locally grown tomatoes. The investment also signals continued interest from foreign agribusiness firms in Ghana’s tomato value chain, as demand for processed foods grows across urban markets.

Industry analysts expect that stronger links between farmers and processors could help stabilize supply, reduce pressure on foreign exchange, and create jobs in rural areas.

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