Ghana’s tomato supply under threat as traders brave deadly Burkina Faso route

Ghanaian tomato traders have revealed chilling details of repeated armed attacks and bomb scares along the Burkina Faso trade corridor, raising fresh concerns about food security and cross-border safety.

Speaking about their ordeal via Kessben Maakye with Kojo Preko Dankwa, a member of Agbogbloshie Tomato Traders Association identified as Cynthia Akomoah disclosed that the traders previously sourced tomatoes from Navrongo , Akomadan and the likes but had to divert their operations to Burkina Faso after production declined locally.

According to her, traders now travel from Kumasi through Paga into Burkina Faso to secure supplies, often under life-threatening conditions.

“We didn’t initially have security on the road. We were once attacked by armed robbers before police later came to our aid,” she recounted.

Cynthia explained that along the Burkina route , trucks are sometimes intercepted and redirected, adding to the uncertainty and danger surrounding their operations. She said traders often sleep along the journey before finally reaching their destinations.

She revealed that the situation escalated three years ago when a bomb was planted along the route they frequently use, killing three traders.

“The surviving traders had to flee into a nearby village for safety,” she said.

In a similar incident last year, she noted that although traders managed to escape unharmed, their vehicle was set ablaze by attackers believed to be militants operating in the enclave .

Despite being aware of the risks, she stressed that the traders have no choice but to continue their business to sustain livelihoods and maintain tomato supply to Ghanaian markets.

Additionally she said the rebels are not interested in our belongings, but the target is to kill the men onboard making the journey dangerous”.

Meanwhile,

an International Relations and African Politics expert, Dr. Nana Yaw Mireku urged Ghanaian authorities to be proactive given the unstable security situation in Burkina Faso.

He stressed that if Ghana cannot produce enough tomatoes locally, it must take urgent steps to mitigate both security and food supply risks.

“Knowing how unstable Burkina Faso has become, our security agencies should have acted proactively to prevent such incidents,” he said.

Dr. Mireku called for a serious security orientation for traders and high-level government engagement with Sahelian authorities to better manage the situation.

He further urged the government to use the current crisis as an opportunity to equip Ghanaian farmers to produce sufficient tomatoes for the domestic market to reduce reliance on imports from conflict-prone areas.

The unfolding developments highlight the growing link between regional insecurity and Ghana’s food supply chain, as traders continue to brave deadly routes to keep markets stocked.