Ghana’s push toward food security and industrial self-reliance has received renewed momentum following high-level engagements between the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and key Spanish stakeholders.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening local raw material production after meeting with the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Angel Lossada Torres-Quevedo, the CEO of GB Foods Africa, Vicenç Bosch, and senior officials of the Spanish Embassy in Accra.
At the heart of the discussions was a bold 6,000-acre tomato cultivation project in the Afram Plains—an initiative poised to redefine Ghana’s agribusiness landscape.
Building Local Capacity, Not Import Dependency
For decades, Ghana has relied heavily on imported tomato paste despite tomatoes being a staple in Ghanaian cuisine. The new large-scale investment by GB Foods Africa signals a deliberate pivot toward domestic production and value addition.
Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo described the company as one of the most reliable agribusiness investors on the continent, emphasizing that its footprint across Africa consistently delivers socio-economic returns for host communities.
CEO Vicenç Bosch underscored the company’s philosophy: developing the industry from within rather than importing finished products. According to him, the Afram Plains project will be more than three times the size of the company’s current farm in Nigeria—already one of the largest tomato farms in the region.
The company has been piloting tomato farming and processing in Ghana for two years, with harvests expected in the coming weeks. Early results show yields of 20 tonnes per acre in the first year, with projections to double to 40 tonnes in the second year—an encouraging trajectory compared to regional averages.
The Competitiveness Challenge
Despite the optimism, the initiative faces a familiar obstacle: low-cost imports.
GB Foods Africa is advocating supportive policy measures—including quota systems similar to those adopted in Senegal and Nigeria—to allow local production to scale competitively over a five-to-seven-year horizon. The company maintains that sustainable growth will require collaborative policy frameworks that protect investment while strengthening the broader agricultural value chain.
This call aligns with Ghana’s long-standing ambition to reduce import dependence, stabilize foreign exchange pressures, and build resilient food systems.
Government’s Commitment to Industrialisation
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare welcomed the investment, describing it as consistent with the government’s industrial transformation agenda under President John Dramani Mahama.
She emphasized that controlling raw material supply is essential to safeguarding industry and food security.
“If your raw material is sourced from somewhere you do not control, when disruptions occur, the entire industry suffers,” she noted, reaffirming government’s determination to ensure key inputs are produced locally.
The Minister also commended the company’s expansion into local products, including the production of shito, and encouraged technology and knowledge transfer to Ghanaian farmers to boost productivity and standards nationwide.
A Strategic Moment for Ghana–Spain Relations
The engagement signals renewed momentum in Ghana–Spain economic cooperation, positioning agribusiness—particularly tomato cultivation and processing—as a strategic pillar for job creation, rural development, and enhanced food security.
Beyond the 6,000-acre investment, the broader implication is clear: Ghana stands at a pivotal moment. With the right policy alignment, private sector commitment, and farmer participation, the country can transition from a heavy importer of tomato products to a competitive regional producer.
The question now is not whether Ghana can grow tomatoes at scale—but whether all stakeholders will seize this opportunity to build a resilient, self-sufficient agribusiness future.
