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The Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness has urged the government to suspend the importation of selected agricultural products, particularly tomatoes, to stimulate local production and support the country’s 24-hour economy agenda.
According to Anthony Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, the current import levels are undermining the domestic industry, costing the country jobs and investment opportunities.
Ghana spends approximately $600 million annually on fresh tomato imports, while processed tomato imports add a further $800 million to the bill.
This heavy reliance on imported tomatoes is economically unsustainable and deprives the country of significant employment opportunities, with an estimated $561 million in potential job losses annually.
Morrison emphasized that curbing imports would create space for local producers and agro-processing firms to expand, aligning with broader efforts to drive industrialisation and round-the-clock economic activity.
The Chamber’s call adds momentum to ongoing policy debates on how Ghana can reduce import dependence, retain value within the economy, and build a resilient, locally driven agribusiness industry.
The recent ban on tomato imports to Ghana by neighbouring Burkina Faso, which was later reversed, has highlighted the need for Ghana to prioritize agricultural transformation and reduce its dependence on imports.
