Agribusiness push: Time to turn agreements into action

GHANA’S renewed push to transform its agricultural sector, particularly tomato production and processing, is both timely and necessary.

The assurance by the Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, in Spain that the government will provide the infrastructure needed to support agribusiness, especially in the tomato value chain, is encouraging.

But it is not enough to repeat the familiar promises of support, investment and partnership. Ghana has been here before.

The meeting with executives of GB Foods in Barcelona signals an important opportunity.

The proposed investment anchored in expanding agro-processing, strengthening value addition, and integrating local farmers into structured supply chains has the potential to reshape Ghana’s tomato industry.

The plan to develop 6,000 hectares in the Afram Plains alone is significant.

If properly executed, it could reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported tomato paste, stabilise supply, and create thousands of jobs across farming, processing and transport.

But Ghana’s agricultural story is littered with ambitious projects that never fully delivered.

The challenge, therefore, is not in the signing of agreements or the announcement of intentions.

The real test lies in execution, consistency, and political will beyond the headlines.

The Vice President is right in stressing that government must prioritise infrastructure.

Without reliable irrigation systems, access roads, storage facilities and processing plants, no serious agro-industrial transformation can take place.

Investors cannot be expected to carry the burden alone, nor can farmers be left at the mercy of erratic rainfall and post-harvest losses.

Equally important is the emphasis on partnerships with outgrower farmers.

Too often, large-scale agricultural investments fail because smallholder farmers — the backbone of the sector — are not meaningfully integrated.

Any successful tomato value chain must ensure that farmers are not merely suppliers at the lowest rung, but active participants who benefit fairly from the entire system.

Yet, as government courts international investors and global partners, it must not lose sight of the fundamentals at home.

Irrigation remains weak in many farming communities.

Storage and processing capacity is still inadequate.

Road networks linking farms to markets are often poor.

These are not new problems, and Ghana cannot continue to treat them as afterthoughts.

The appeal by GB Foods for stronger irrigation support should therefore be taken seriously.

Year-round tomato cultivation is not a luxury; it is a necessity if Ghana is to compete and sustain supply stability, especially in the face of regional trade disruptions such as recent export restrictions from neighbouring countries.

What Ghana needs now is discipline in implementation.

Clear timelines, measurable targets, and transparent monitoring must guide this partnership.

Government must resist the temptation to treat this as another ceremonial agreement.

Instead, it should be anchored in performance and results.

At stake is more than just tomato production. It is about food security, rural livelihoods, and the credibility of Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.

If this initiative succeeds, it could become a model for other agricultural value chains.

If it fails, it will simply add to a long list of missed opportunities.

Ghana must therefore move beyond promises and into production.

The time for talking has passed. The time for delivery is now.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q