The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has called on tomato farmers in Ghana to focus on planting varieties that can be processed into tomato paste, noting that this is what local processing factories demand.

“So we must begin producing the type of tomatoes that can be processed into tomato paste. This will make it easier to attract investors to establish tomato factories and create jobs,” he said during a tour of the Greater Accra Region on March 9.

Mr. Nketia cited the Berekum Tomato Factory in his home area as an example of a facility struggling due to a mismatch between the tomatoes being grown and the types needed for processing. “The factory cannot operate because the farmers are not growing the right variety. We are now working to introduce improved tomato varieties so that the factory can source locally,” he explained.

He emphasised that this mismatch is why Ghana continues to import tomatoes despite producing large quantities locally. “Even though we are producing tomatoes, factories cannot buy them because they need a specific type for processing. As a result, local tomatoes may go to waste while imported ones are used,” Mr. Nketia said.

He also linked the issue to the tourism and hospitality sector, noting that many hotels import tomatoes and other vegetables instead of sourcing from local farmers. “We build hotels to encourage tourism, but when visitors eat imported food, the benefit to our economy is minimal. Everything they eat comes from outside, and the only thing left behind is waste,” he said.

Mr. Nketia stressed the importance of aligning local agricultural production with the needs of hotels and factories to ensure that the country benefits economically. “It is time to understand what hotels and factories require, produce it locally, and capture the income from that production. This way, tourism and local industries can contribute meaningfully to our economy,” he concluded.