The Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association has announced the suspension of tomato imports from Burkina Faso following the killing of Ghanaian traders in an armed attack.

The incident occurred on Saturday in Titao, as the traders were transporting tomatoes to Ghana, raising serious concerns about the safety of cross-border trade along the Burkina Faso corridor.

Eric Osei Tuffour, Chairman of the association, described the killings as a major setback for the trading community. He called on authorities to strengthen security along the Burkina Faso trade route and accelerate reforms to boost domestic tomato production.

Tuffour also highlighted the vulnerability of Ghanaian traders who frequently travel to northern Burkina Faso to transport tomatoes and onions, urging structural interventions to address longstanding challenges in the sector.

In a phone interview with Adom FM, monitored by the Ghanaian Times in Accra, Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, supported the suspension, noting that it would allow bereaved families time to mourn while giving the government space to assess the security situation and implement protective measures.

She commended the association for its contributions to food security, job creation, and agribusiness development, adding: “The growth of the tomato sector is essential to our industrialisation agenda. We are ready to collaborate with the association to improve production, processing, and market access for local farmers.”

The minister assured traders that the ministry would work closely with security agencies and other relevant institutions to review the situation and introduce sustainable measures to safeguard cross-border trade.

She reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening local industries and agricultural value chains as part of a broader economic transformation strategy.