A group of Ghanaian tomato traders has safely returned from Burkina Faso, completing the first cross-border sourcing mission since a terrorist attack disrupted trade nearly two weeks ago.
The delegation departed on Monday, February 22, and arrived back in Ghana on Thursday, February 26.
The trip marks a tentative return to normalcy for the tomato supply chain, which was severely impacted after the incident in the Titao community prompted a temporary border closure.
The resumption of trade follows direct government intervention, which facilitated the reopening of the border to allow traders to replenish their stocks.
The brief suspension of imports had led to significant supply shortages and a sharp hike in tomato prices across various markets in Ghana.
While the safe return of the traders has brought relief to major trading hubs like the CMB area in Accra, the relief is mixed with frustration.
Members of the Ghana National Tomato Traders Association at the CMB Underbridge commended the government for eventually securing the border, but criticized the delay in the decision-making process.
They argue that the period of uncertainty exacerbated their financial difficulties due to dwindling supplies.
Despite their safe passage, some traders admitted that the journey was fraught with tension.
However, they described the trip as a necessary risk, citing the acute shortage of local produce and Ghana’s heavy dependence on tomato imports from Burkina Faso.
