Some traders, farmers and consumers in parts of the Tongu enclaves, have called for swift government intervention to stabilise tomato prices and improve supply, following recent increases in the cost of the commodity across local markets.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the Dabala market in the South Tongu Municipality, indicated that traders were grappling with reduced supply and declining patronage as many households had adjusted their consumption due to high prices.

Madam Akosua Nunya, a tomato trader, said the price surge had affected sales volumes, as customers were purchasing smaller quantities.

She appealed for measures to improve supply chains and reduce transportation costs to ease the burden on traders and consumers.

Mr Kwame Soglo, another trader at Sokpoe also attributed the situation to supply disruptions and rising operational costs, noting that the development was affecting their margins and business stability.

In Mafi Dekpoe, one of the farming communities in Central Tongu,  Mr Kofi Amenyedua, a tomato farmer, said high input costs and limited irrigation support were constraining production, particularly during dry periods.

He called for increased support for local farmers through access to affordable inputs, extension services, and irrigation infrastructure to boost domestic production.

Some residents who spoke to GNA expressed concern about the impact of rising tomato prices on household food budgets and urged authorities to intensify efforts to stabilise the market and ensure affordability.

They further called for strengthened monitoring of the price regime and expanded support for farmers to enhance food security.

Some farmers and traders also linked the recent price increases to supply disruptions, following a deadly attack on Ghanaian traders in the town of Titao in northern Burkina Faso.

Reports revealed that several Ghanaian tomato traders were killed when armed militants attacked the town in February this year, while the traders were there for commercial activities.

The incident,  had prompted heightened security concerns and disruptions to cross-border trade, which has traditionally been a key source of tomato supply to Ghanaian markets.

Most tomato traders and consumers in the enclave mentioned that the deteriorating security situation in parts of the Sahel had affected commercial activities and supply routes, contributing to price volatility in food markets.

They urged the government to foster a swift response to remedy the situation.

Source GNA