Author: Sefakor

Crate shortages and limited market access are pushing tomato farmers in Anloga-Vume in the Volta Region toward heavy losses, as tonnes of uncollected produce rot in the fields. A recent trip to the Anloga District, a hub known for tomato and other vegetable production, found heaps of harvested tomatoes lying on sacks along the road, while crates and baskets sat full, waiting for buyers. According to one of the farmers, Augusta Sefakor Nazar, the area had recorded a bumper tomato harvest this season. She says even though the farmers harvest every day, the market is volatile and usually slows down…

Every year, two things happen in the tomato industry: consumers pay more for less in the lean season, while farmers receive less for their labour during the peak season. 2026 is arguably one of the most difficult years for consumers. Ghanaians on social media, especially women, ask about alternatives to fresh tomatoes because of skyrocketing prices. These posts reflect the reality of the tomato situation in local markets across the country. The blame is usually laid on the government for not seeking permanent solutions to the recurring problem affecting a country that consumes tons of millions of tomatoes annually. Ghanaians…

On tomato fields in Anloga District of the Volta Region, abundance and scarcity exist side by side. It is early morning, 32-year-old farmer Bright Adzrah, walks through rows of ripening tomatoes on his four-acre farm. The plants are heavy with fruit giving hope for his 60 tonnes target, yet not all of it will make it to market. “Yesterday, I harvested about 44 crates,” he says. “The rest are still on the farm because I don’t have buyers and even crates to carry them.” It is a striking contradiction in a year when consumers across Ghana have complained about soaring…

A Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) report says fresh tomato prices surged by 158.3% year-on-year in August 2026, making the basic ingredients in Ghanaian homes the biggest price mover within that period. The sharp increase comes despite a moderation in overall food inflation, which eased marginally to 3.0% in August from 3.1% in July. While reading the August Consumer Price Index, Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, said the high increment in fresh tomato prices shows the varying price experiences of consumers across different commodities. “Fresh Tomatoes more than doubled in price (+158.3%) while Lime fell 33.7%: the overall Y-on-Y inflation of…

They turned disappointments into business restructuring, becoming producers of exportable mangos that they used to struggle to get from individual farmers. For years, MakolaHub was exporting mangoes sourced from independent growers in Ghana, but decided on a more direct approach to production to meet international market standards. After starting its own small mango farm in 2021, the first commercial harvest has begun, says Alex Kravecas of MakolaHub. “In 2019, we were aggregating mangoes from independent farmers for export. One of the biggest lessons we learned was how difficult it was to consistently produce the quality required by premium overseas buyers…

A new partnership under the National Poultry Transformation Programme aims to process 20,000 tonnes of locally produced chicken annually in the first phase, with plans to increase production to 50,000 tonnes. Running under the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat (24H+), the partnership is expected to generate 12,000 direct jobs. The government signed a Heads of Terms agreement with four investment partners for a US$270 million National Poultry Transformation Programme. The agreement was signed at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Accra. The event brings together UK-based agrifood investment company Agrium Capital, Petra Trust, Axis Pension Trust…

The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat announced a major step Ghana is taking to reduce its long-standing dependence on imported poultry after signing a Heads of Terms agreement for a US$270 million integrated poultry investment under the National Poultry Transformation Programme. Successive governments undertook several investments to boost local production but failed to yield the needed results as the country continues to spend an estimated $300–$350 million annually on chicken imports. The new agreement, convened by the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, brings together Agrium Capital, Petra Pension Trust and Axis Pension Trust, with Ghana EXIM…

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) returned to profitability in 2025 on the back of several initiatives, including expanded production programmes, input support schemes and climate resilience interventions that boosted output and sales across the cocoa value chain. After recording a loss of GH¢5.73 billion in 2024, the Board posted a net profit of GH¢5.11 billion in 2025, supported by a sharp rise in cocoa purchases and stronger export and domestic sales. According to the 2025 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), the turnaround was driven by significant increases in cocoa purchases, export sales and domestic…

Gari is one of the commonly processed ready-to-eat foods that can be found in every part of Ghana. The sector is largely dominated by the informal sector in cassava farming areas, where mostly women are involved in the value chain and sell in local markets. The industry has in recent times seen some progress in the formal sector with brands such as Meannan, Kivo, H&H and Sunny Gold among others hitting the market. Beyond the domestic progress, Ghana is also sharpening its focus on gari as a key export commodity, positioning the cassava-based staple to tap into expanding market opportunities…

Ghanaian farmers deserve to earn higher and more sustainable prices for producing quality and healthier food. Over the years, Ghanaians have become increasingly health-conscious. This creates an opportunity to establish a stronger price–quality relationship in our agricultural sector. Consumers who value healthier, responsibly produced food should have the opportunity to identify it and pay a premium for it. Unfortunately, our markets are currently saturated with agricultural produce without a reliable system to distinguish how, where and under what conditions the produce was produced. As a result, the farmer who invests more in quality often receives almost the same price as…