Govt to support agribusiness with key infrastructure — Vice President
THE Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has assured investors that government will provide the necessary infrastructure to support agribusiness, with particular focus on tomato production and processing.
She gave the assurance during a meeting with executives of GB Foods in Barcelona, Spain, as part of her official engagements.
The discussions centered on expanding agro-processing, promoting value addition, creating jobs, and integrating Ghanaian tomato farmers into the company’s supply chain.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said government is committed to reducing Ghana’s dependence on tomato imports by increasing local production and supporting the export of processed tomato products.
She noted that investments in the agricultural value chain would strengthen domestic production capacity while expanding opportunities for industrial processing.
According to her, such initiatives would generate sustainable employment, improve rural incomes, and contribute to overall national economic growth.
The Vice President further stressed that government would prioritise key outcomes from the engagement, particularly the provision of critical infrastructure needed for the successful implementation of the project.
She also emphasised the importance of strong partnerships between GB Foods and local outgrower farmers to ensure broad participation and shared benefits across the tomato value chain.
The Director of Corporate Affairs for Africa at GB Foods, Mr Teddy Ngu, appealed for increased government support, especially in irrigation development to enable year-round tomato cultivation.
He disclosed that the company had secured about 6,000 hectares of land in the Afram Plains for the project.
Mr Ngu said the investment would help stabilise tomato supply in Ghana, particularly following recent export restrictions from Burkina Faso.
He added that stronger government support would be crucial for the long-term success of the project and for enhancing Ghana’s food security.
The proposed investment is expected to strengthen local tomato production, reduce reliance on imports, and create new opportunities for farmers, processors, and transport operators across the country.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
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