Tomato traders boycott Burkina Faso travels over security concerns

Tomato traders in the Ashanti Region have expressed disappointment in the government over what they describe as a lack of engagement following a recent terror attack on their colleagues in Burkina Faso.

The traders say they will not resume traveling to purchase tomatoes until enhanced security measures are put in place to guarantee their safety.

This decision has already begun affecting supply, leading to a sharp increase in tomato prices as only limited quantities are currently available on the market.

The disruption follows a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso two weeks ago, which claimed the lives of eight Ghanaian tomato traders and left several others injured.

The incident has halted cross-border tomato trade and exposed Ghana’s growing vulnerability due to its over-reliance on imported tomatoes.

Since the attack, traders have remained unwilling to embark on journeys to restock, forcing consumers to bear the brunt of the resulting scarcity.

During a visit to the Racecourse Market, several tomato boxes were found empty, with traders idling about.

A space that is usually bustling with fresh produce appeared largely deserted. Retailers who spoke to Citi News lamented the sharp increase in prices of the few tomatoes currently available.

The tomato market queen, Nana Akoma, who has been in the business for over 40 years, said traders have completely run out of stock and expressed concern over the absence of government engagement since the incident, noting that no clear roadmap has been presented to address the situation.

“What happened to our colleagues has frightened us, so no one has embarked on any journey yet. We are waiting to hear from the Minister of Food and Agriculture and the government, but almost all traders have run out of stock. Once we hear from them, we will decide on the next steps.

“However, we need protection because we are risking our lives in neighbouring countries just to bring tomatoes to feed our people. Unfortunately, there has been no government engagement since the incident, but we are still waiting.”

Source: citinewsroom.com