Burkina Faso has halted the export of fresh tomatoes, a move likely to worsen supply shortages in Ghana.
In a joint statement from Ouagadougou, the Burkinabè government announced an immediate nationwide ban on tomato exports “until further notice,” citing the need to prioritise domestic supply for local processing industries.
Signed by the trade and agriculture ministries, the directive also suspends the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE), effectively closing official channels for tomato exports.
Traders holding existing permits have a two-week window to complete current shipments, after which all authorisations will be revoked.
The government warned that violations would incur penalties under existing laws and that any seized shipments would be redirected to domestic processing factories to support local agro-industrial production.
Security forces and border officials have been instructed to enforce the ban, and the public has been urged to report any breaches.
The suspension is expected to have immediate effects on Ghana’s food supply, particularly in key trading centres such as Techiman, where many traders rely on imports from Burkina Faso to supplement local production.
Cross-border tomato trade has traditionally helped stabilise prices in Ghana, especially during periods of low domestic output, but insecurity in the Sahel region has increasingly disrupted these flows.
In February 2026, seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed and several others injured in an ambush by armed militants in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, during a routine trading trip, highlighting the growing risks of cross-border commerce.
Following that attack, the Ghana Armed Forces evacuated the injured to Accra, and authorities warned citizens against travelling to high-risk areas.
With the latest export ban, analysts expect tomato prices in Ghana to rise further in the coming weeks, adding pressure on households and traders already facing limited supplies.