Ghana supplies 240 tonnes of fresh tomatoes to Accra markets

GHANA – Accra received more than 240 tonnes of freshly harvested tomatoes from Ghana’s Upper East Region this month, with deliveries aimed at easing shortages and stabilising prices during the dry season.

The supply reached Agbogbloshie Market, the CMB Railway Market, Palace Mall and Accra City Hotel under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme, known as FSRP. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture leads the programme, with funding from the Government of Norway and coordination by the World Bank.

FSRP delivered the tomatoes in partnership with agribusiness firm FarmMate Ltd. The programme focuses on dry season cultivation to support year round availability and cut reliance on imports, which often face quality and price swings.

At Accra City Hotel, the Sustainable and Compliance Officer, Opoku Agyeman Clinton, said the hotel chose to source from the FSRP FarmMate project due to food safety needs. “Our decision was based on food safety considerations,” he told The Ghanaian Times. He added that the hotel holds ISO 22000 certification, which includes Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.

Mr Clinton said the hotel carried out a supplier audit at FarmMate’s facilities and confirmed compliance with required standards. “The tomatoes arrived firm and unbruised, and both our chefs and clients have attested to their quality,” he said, noting that the supply had helped maintain menu consistency.

Market response and quality checks

At Palace Mall, Bassam Taleb, Head of the Fresh Purchasing Department, said the freshness and hygienic quality of the tomatoes had helped draw more customers. “FarmMate meets strict procurement requirements, including the use of quality seeds, chemical free production methods and approved irrigation water sources,” he said.

Mr Taleb urged further public investment in agriculture to widen access to chemical free produce across the market.

Open market traders also reported gains. At the CMB Railway Market, bulk trader Naomi Atuahene said the tomatoes lasted up to five days without refrigeration, which she said outperformed imported varieties, especially those from Burkina Faso. “This shows we can meet domestic demand with high quality local tomatoes,” she said, calling for similar projects to expand.

At Agbogbloshie Market, trader Hannah Owusu pointed to lower prices and better hygiene. “Demand has gone up because buyers trust the freshness and cleanliness,” she said. She encouraged traders and hotels to support local produce and reduce reliance on chemically treated imports.

Broader push for agriculture

The supply comes as the government signals wider backing for agribusiness. In a separate move, authorities recently set aside GH¢3 million, about US$250,000, to support campus based business pitches, reflecting growing attention to local enterprise and food systems.

FSRP FarmMate has pledged to continue supplying locally produced, chemical free tomatoes to help ease dry season shortages and support farmers while keeping Accra markets stocked.

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