The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has revealed that farmers under the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficient Initiative (GHATSI) are to benefit from pension contributions set aside in a pension fund.
Minister said this during the launch of the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficient Initiative at Anloga in the Volta Region.
The initiative is a Government of Ghana initiative led by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with FarmMate LTD that aimed to build a reliable, year-round and integrated domestic tomato value chain that progressively meets national demand, reduces import dependence and creates an eventual surplus for export.
Farmers, unlike other professions, do not benefit from pension benefits even though they contribute immensely to the lives of individuals, including the President of the Republic.
A sector that employs over 1/3 of the working population does not benefit from pension funds that leads to derailing.
He said the initiative provides for a pension arrangement under which a small, agreed percentage of the farmer’s income will be set aside in a pension fund after the harvest has been purchased and payment made.
“This will provide farmers with a measure of income security when they reach a stage at which they no longer have the strength to remain actively engaged in farming,” he mentioned.
According to him, the farmers deserve not only the support required to produce today, but also dignity and financial security in retirement.
He added that Pan-African Savings and Loans, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, is working directly with farmers in the production communities to provide the required financing under the initiative. This will bring liberation to farmers in accessing financial support.
“The current farmer enhancement package is estimated at approximately GHS20,000 per acre. It covers inputs, land preparation, soil testing, technical assistance, insurance and other production requirements”, he revealed.
To ensure effective extension service delivery, he explained that a portion of the financial package will also support extension delivery. This will enable Agricultural Extension Officers to remain close to participating farmers, provide regular technical guidance and ensure that farmers practise intentional, scientific and commercially oriented agriculture.
This is not free input distribution. It is productive input-credit financing intended to ensure that capable farmers are not prevented from producing because they do not have all the required capital at the beginning of the season.
The applicable financing obligation will be settled through the structured off-take arrangement after harvest.
The Government has announced plans to rehabilitate all 22 existing irrigation facilities in the Volta Region by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to transition Ghana from rain-fed agriculture to year-round irrigation-based farming.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, made the announcement at the national launch of the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) at Anloga in the Volta Region.
The initiative, launched on September 15, 2026, is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with FarmMate Limited and seeks to establish a reliable, year-round domestic tomato value chain, reduce dependence on imports and improve incomes for farmers.
According to the Minister, the rehabilitation of the irrigation facilities forms part of government’s response to President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to accelerate the transition from rain-fed agriculture to irrigation farming.
He explained that an assessment of irrigation infrastructure across the country showed that several facilities constructed over the years were operating below their designed capacities, largely due to deterioration and inadequate maintenance.
The Minister said the government would therefore invest in rehabilitating existing irrigation infrastructure while also developing new facilities to expand access to water for agricultural production.
He disclosed that two new irrigation dams were also being pursued in the Volta Region, while two new excavators would be provided to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council to support the dredging of lagoons, streams and rivers to improve water flow for irrigation.
Mobile irrigation systems
Hon. Eric Opoku further announced the introduction of mobile irrigation systems to enable farmers to access irrigation water more easily.
The systems come with a 10-horsepower diesel-powered water pump, medium-sized pipes, 44 sprinklers and 44 risers, with each unit capable of irrigating approximately five acres.
Government is subsidising 60 per cent of the cost, while farmers are expected to finance the remaining 40 per cent, equivalent to GH¢23,800. Farmers unable to make the payment upfront would be allowed to acquire the equipment through a two-year hire-purchase arrangement.
The Minister said the initiative was intended to make irrigation equipment more accessible to farmers and support increased production throughout the year.
Government has also begun expanding access to water-pumping equipment, with 100 machines already distributed through the Regional Minister and procurement underway for an additional 500 machines.
Fertiliser and improved seeds
Mr Opoku also outlined measures to improve farmers’ access to agricultural inputs, including improved seeds and fertiliser.
He said the Ministry had reached an agreement with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop improved seeds capable of producing yields of between 25 and 30 tonnes.
The Ministry expects the seeds to be available by the end of November, after which they would be procured and distributed to farmers.
Meanwhile, government has procured organic fertiliser for farmers and earmarked 200 cartons to support subsistence and vegetable farmers in the Volta Region.
The Minister explained that the free fertiliser intervention was introduced as an emergency measure following disasters, including the Akosombo Dam spillage and drought conditions in parts of northern Ghana, which resulted in significant losses to farmers.
Gunu commends Mahama
The Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, commended President Mahama and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for what he described as significant investments in agriculture in the region.
He said the interventions demonstrated government’s commitment to supporting farmers, increasing food production and strengthening food security.
Mr Gunu recalled that following the celebration of the National Farmers’ Day in the Volta Region under the theme “Eat Ghana, Feed Ghana, Secure the Future,” the region received more than 20,000 bags of fertiliser for distribution to farmers.
He added that each of the region’s 18 district assemblies had subsequently received fertiliser, while the region had also benefited from additional supplies under the government’s agricultural interventions.
The Regional Minister said the Volta Region had also received 180,000 birds under the Feed Ghana poultry support programme, while two of the 10 Farmers’ Service Centres being constructed nationwide were allocated to the region.
“If the entire country is receiving 10 projects and the Volta Region is receiving two of them, that should tell you how much attention this government is giving to the development and agricultural transformation of the people of the Volta Region,” he said.
Mr Gunu said the region had enormous potential for tomato production, particularly in Anloga, Keta, Akatsi North and Agotime Ziope, and called for the expansion of GHATSI to cover more tomato-growing communities.
He also appealed for the establishment of a tomato processing facility in the region to reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs and enable farmers to derive greater value from their produce.
GHATSI targets higher tomato production
The GHATSI initiative targets an initial production of about 100,000 tonnes of tomatoes during the 2026/2027 production cycle, with the long-term objective of reaching approximately 400,000 tonnes annually.
The programme is designed to link farmers to irrigation, improved inputs, financing, technical support, crop insurance, processing, logistics and guaranteed markets.
Mr Opoku said the broader objective was to establish a dependable year-round tomato value chain that would address Ghana’s seasonal tomato shortages, reduce post-harvest losses and eventually create opportunities for value addition and exports.
The launch at Anloga brought together government officials, traditional leaders, farmers, Members of Parliament, local government representatives and private-sector stakeholders.
The government says the combination of irrigation development, improved agricultural inputs, financing, market access and processing infrastructure will be critical to achieving food security and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported agricultural products.
Apio is the unique name for the locally produced Ghanaian gin from palm wine and other raw products. To avoid other countries from infiltrating the product with the name, the Intellectual Property Office under the Registrar General’s Department has moved to protect the unique name and the product.
In a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Ghana Industrial Property Office (GHIPO) under the Registrar General’s Department, the Registrar at the Registrar General’s Department, Madam Grace Issahaque, underscored the purpose of the meeting as being the efforts to support local producers of the locally produced gin by leveraging geographical indication (GI) to enhance branding and competitiveness.
According to her, Geographical Indication helps to protect and promote the unique nature of a product to a specific region, based on tradition, environment, or the skill set of the people.
Madam Grace Issahaque, the Registrar, Registrar General’s Department, explaining the merit of GI to the Apio in local and international markets.
“We are trying to assist the producers to come up with standards and also ensure that they do a proper review of how they produce the gin and ensure that they use their local skill sets; enhancing its safety, its uniqueness and ensuring that the reputation of production does not diminish”, she explained.
Explaining the relevance of the GI tool to production, she said that once producers and consumers understand the unique nature and the quality controls used in a particular production, consumers will continue to patronize or purchase that product.
Building producers’ capacity in GI will give them the leverage to compete on the international market by producing quality gin more than Vodka, whiskey, and others.
She urged the producers to work assiduously to produce the best product to stand the test of both the local and international standards.
Speaking on the theme, Protecting Our Heritage, Promoting Our Future, the Head of Intellectual Property of the Ghana Intellectual Property Office under the Registrar General’s Department, Dr. Courage Komla Besah-Adanu, said the stakeholders’ meeting is critical in the building of a system for geographical indications to protect the traditional distilled spirits, called Apio.
Explaining the importance of building the system for geographical indications, he said: “Once we map out the stakeholders and we have engaged with them in building the value chain, that will ensure the consistency of producing quality Akpeteshe in higher volumes.”
Dr. Courage Komla Besah-Adanu, the Head of Intellectual Property of the Ghana Intellectual Property Office, under the Registrar General’s Department, called on the stakeholders to collaborate to lift the flag of Ghana high on the international market.
He stressed that with the relevant stakeholders involved, including GSA, the Ministry of Trade, FDA, GEPA, and more, Ghana is poised to properly brand and process unique local gin for local consumption and the global market.
He called on stakeholders, especially farmers, to cooperate, collaborate, and work effectively on the Geographical Indication to raise Ghana’s flag in the global market.
David Ahiakye, a farmer and distiller from Asamankese, extolled the organizers for such a programme.
Unfortunately, he said most of the farmers and the distillers have no knowledge about the effects of the materials that they used for distilling.
Speaking to Agric Today, he revealed that the training would enhance their working abilities by following the right protocols and using the right tools and equipment to produce quality gin.
Observing these protocols, he said it would improve the income level, which goes a long way toward improving living standards.
The Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI), an initiative initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with FarmMate Ltd is to provide lasting solution to Ghana’s tomato crisis.
The initiative would be launched on 15th September, 2026 at the Anlo Senior High School Park (ANSECO) in Anloga, Volta Region, at 10:00 AM.
The launch will be led by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku (MP), and will convene Government officials, Regional authorities, Traditional leaders, farmers, financial institutions, insurers, technical partners, and the media.
The national Public-Private Partnership (PPP) designed to move Ghana progressively toward reliable tomato self-sufficiency by building an integrated, year-round domestic value chain.
Ghana possesses favorable land, water, and climate, these notwithstanding the nation currently spends over USD 400 million annually importing fresh tomatoes and paste, heavily driven by the December-to-July off-season deficit.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, GHATSI directly reverses this dynamic by connecting farmers and land to production enhancement, structured finance, multi-peril crop insurance, aggregation, industrial processing, and guaranteed market access.
The initiative seeks to end import dependency, guarantee a stable year-round supply, raise and secure farmer incomes through contract farming, create sustainable youth employment across the entire value chain, eliminate avoidable post-harvest losses, and reduce risks of farming against climate or pest shocks.
According to the press release, the complete rollout targets annual national tomato production of 400,000 tonnes, commencing with an initial supply target of approximately 100,000 tonnes during the 2026/2027 production cycle.
This 2026/2027 first-phase rollout will span over 10,000+ acres across 40 districts, 12 regions, and more than 100 communities, establishing the production base for progressive scale-up to the full 400,000-tonne annual target.
Under the Farmer Enhancement Package, participating growers will receive financed agro-inputs, irrigation support, extension and technical services, and multi-peril crop insurance, with repayment settled directly at off-take.
Regularly drinking beverages like tea and coffee at very hot temperatures increases the risk of cancer of the food pipe or gullet, known as oesophageal cancer, UK research suggests.
Researchers say the findings, from a study of nearly a million people, make this the largest to date to establish the link.
In the study, people who had their drinks “very hot” had around a three times higher risk of the cancer than “warm” tea or coffee drinkers – although experts stress the overall chances of developing this cancer are low.
Steaming hot liquid can damage the cell lining of the food pipe on the way down to the stomach.
Scalding hot brews
The work by Oxford University, which is published in the International Journal of Cancer, defines any drink at 65 degrees Celsuis or above as “very hot” and posing a potential risk.
Consuming six or more hot drinks per day also raises the risk, according to data from 977,282 middle-aged men and women.
Although adding milk can cool drinks down slightly, a milky tea or coffee may still be far too hot, researchers say.
Tea made immediately after a kettle is fully boiled is touching boiling point, which is 100 degrees C (212 degrees F). Once poured into a cup, that lowers to around 90 or 95 degrees C.
The advice is to wait a few minutes before drinking so the beverage cools to a safer temperature.
Cancer Research UK says it’s difficult to put an exact time on how long a hot drink should be left to cool.
“But if you’re worried, we’d suggest just waiting until it’s comfortable to drink rather than drinking it while it’s still very hot,” the charity said.
Lead researcher Dr Keren Papier said research in South America – where many people drink a very hot herbal beverage called mate – had already shown a similar link between hot drinks and oesophageal cancer.
But she said: “More research is now needed to identify the exact drink temperatures linked to this increased risk.”
A separate study of 118 young adults who did multiple tastings of different black coffees found most only deemed the drinks to be too hot if the temperature was 70 degrees C or above.
According to one takeaway coffee cup manufacturer, the ideal temperature for hot coffee on the go is between 49 and 60 degrees C.
Should a barista want the coffee to stay hotter for longer – if a customer requests extra hot – it can be served at over 82 degrees C, says MTPak Coffee.
Small overall risk
The researchers suggest that around one or two in every 10 oesophageal cancers could be avoided if people stopped drinking very hot beverages.
Squamous cell oesophageal cancer is rare, affecting a few thousand people a year. In the UK, around a 1% of the popularion has a lifetime risk of being diagnosed with this type of cancer.
So even if scalding hot drinks might increase someone’s risk, the chances of them developing the cancer are still low.
And there are other factors, such as smoking, which are a bigger risk for oesophageal cancer.
Fiona Osgun from Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, stressed: “The most important ways to reduce the risk of this cancer type are not smoking and cutting down on alcohol.”
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer can include heartburn, indigestion or a pain in your throat or chest, along with weight loss.
Tomato prices are expected to fall significantly in the coming weeks as local farmers begin harvesting their crops, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo has said.
According to him, the increased supply from the ongoing harvest will ease pressure on the domestic market and improve the availability of tomatoes across the country.
Mr Dumelo said the government is also preparing for large-scale dry-season tomato farming from December 2026 to June 2027 to address anticipated supply shortfalls.
He explained that lands have largely been cleared in parts of northern Ghana, with seedling nursing and transplanting expected to begin in October.
In a Facebook post on Monday, September 7, he said the government had provided farmers with solar-powered boreholes and irrigation inputs to support dry-season cultivation.
“The prices of tomatoes should see a sharp decline in the coming weeks as Ghanaian farmers have started harvesting,” he said, adding that the dry-season programme would help “augment the shortfalls” expected next year.
The initiative, he said, is aimed at boosting year-round tomato production and reducing seasonal supply gaps that often trigger sharp increases in prices. Tomato prices recorded the biggest increase among food items monitored by the Channel One Market Price Barometer in August 2026.
Traders have linked the recent surge to reduced rainfall in major tomato-growing areas, which has constrained supply. Tomato trader Mary Okyere said the cost of the commodity had risen sharply compared with the same period last year.
“Last year, a basket of tomatoes like this sold for about GH¢200, but now the same basket costs as much as GH¢700,” she said. She added that a paint rubber of tomatoes, which previously sold for about GH¢50, now costs GH¢150.
While the government expects prices to ease as the current harvest reaches the market, traders remain concerned that low rainfall could continue to affect overall tomato production and supply.
The 24-Hour Economy Secretariat and Accelerated Export Development Authority has mobilised financing commitments exceeding GH¢1 billion to support Ghana’s poultry value chain.
The financing forms part of efforts to boost local production, create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported chicken.
Mr Arnold Parker, Funding Team Lead of the Secretariat, said the finances would support investments across the poultry value-chain to include feed production, day-old chick supply, equipment, processing, storage and veterinary services.
Speaking at the National Transformation Poultry Programme stakeholder discussions in Accra, Mr Parker said the Secretariat had secured strong commitments from financial institutions and investors to drive the initiative.
The funding would be undertaken by private sector actors, notably ABSA, Fidelity and Ecobank.
The first phase of the programme targets about GHS300 million, with additional financing expected to be mobilised after the initial implementation cycle.
“The funds are ready, but we must put in place the right structures to draw down the financing and deploy it effectively across the industry,” Mr Parker said.
He noted that the programme was not solely focused on increasing production but on strengthening the entire poultry value-chain from input suppliers and breeders to processors and off-takers.
The initiative also aligned with Ghana’s Accelerated Export Development agenda, which sought to position locally produced poultry products for regional and international markets.
Mr Parker stressed the need for financing products that reflected the realities of poultry production cycles, saying conventional lending structures often placed undue pressure on farmers.
He explained that banks and industry players would work together to develop customised financing solutions tailored to poultry operation.
The financing initiative comes at a time when Ghana remains heavily reliant on imported poultry products.
The 2024 Budget Statement said the country consumed about 324,047 metric tonnes of poultry in 2022 but produced only 15,000 metric tonnes locally, representing just 4.6 per cent of national demand.
As a result, about 95 per cent of poultry consumed in Ghana is imported, mainly from Brazil, the United States and Europe.
The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers estimates that the country spends nearly US$400 million annually on imported poultry products.
Mr Parker said the new financing framework would address those constraints by providing targeted support throughout the value-chain while strengthening enterprise management and technical capacity.
The Secretariat would collaborate with research institutions, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, to improve productivity and support innovation in the industry, he noted.
Fresh tomato prices surged by 158.3% year-on-year in August 2026, making the commodity the biggest price mover recorded by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) during the month.
The sharp increase comes despite a moderation in overall food inflation, which eased marginally to 3.0% in August from 3.1% in July.
Presenting the August Consumer Price Index, Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, said the significant increase in fresh tomato prices highlights the varying price experiences of consumers across different commodities.
“Fresh Tomatoes more than doubled in price (+158.3%) while Lime fell 33.7%: the overall Y-on-Y inflation of 5.0% hides very different experiences at the market”, he noted.
The GSS data show that fresh tomatoes recorded the highest year-on-year price increase among the commodities tracked in August, followed by ginger, whose price increased by 128.3%.
Shrimps recorded a 67.1% increase, mango prices rose by 57.7%, while fresh coconut and fresh green pepper increased by 38.0% and 30.5%, respectively.
The sharp rise in tomato prices contrasts with declines recorded in the prices of several other food commodities. Lime recorded the biggest decline, falling by 33.7%, while maize prices dropped by 31.3%.
Cocoyam leaves, sweet apples, fried fish and pawpaw also recorded notable price reductions.
Despite the mixed movements, the GSS says food prices generally fell by 2.5% month-on-month in August.
Dr. Iddrisu explained that inflation measures the rate at which prices change rather than the absolute price level of individual goods.
“Inflation measures how fast prices in general are rising or falling, not how high they already are”, he added.
Overall year-on-year inflation increased to 5.0% in August from 4.6% in July, but remained substantially below the 11.5% recorded in August 2025.
Non-food inflation was the main driver, rising to 6.8%, compared with food inflation of 3.0%. The GSS says non-food items accounted for 70.9% of total inflation, while food contributed 29.1%.
Services also remained a major source of price pressure, recording inflation of 8.6%, compared with 3.8% for goods.
According to the GSS, locally produced goods and services accounted for 86.2% of total inflation, while imported items recorded inflation of 2.2%.
Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, explaining the responsibility of the government as the to protect the resources responsibly and ensure that the resources continue to sustain the livelihoods and nourish generations yet to come.
Hon. Emelia Arthur, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture has cautioned the Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) against selling premix fuel above the approved prices, hoarding the product or diverting it for private gain.
She said the Ministry and the National Premix Fuel Secretariat would sanction committees that violated the approved pricing and distribution arrangements.
“Every Landing Beach Committee must sell premix fuel at the approved price. The Ministry will not countenance any attempt to exploit fishers by increasing the price, hoarding the product or diverting it for resale,” Ms Arthur warned.
Under the new price schedule, premix fuel is to be sold at GH¢5.51 per litre, equivalent to GH¢24.80 per gallon.
Accordingly, 80 gallons will cost GH¢1,984, while 70 gallons will sell for GH¢1,736. The approved price for 50 gallons is GH¢1,240, while a yellow gallon will cost GH¢174.
Ms Arthur directed LBC executives to prominently display the approved prices at all landing beaches to ensure fishers know how much they are required to pay.
“No fisherman or fish processor should be made to pay one pesewa above the approved price. These prices must be displayed clearly at every landing beach. Any committee that violates this directive will be dealt with,” she stated.
The Administrator of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat, Ebow Mensah, also cautioned LBCs against creating artificial shortages by withholding supplies or selling the product to middlemen.
“Premix fuel is subsidised by the state to support fishing communities. It is not a commodity for committee members or individuals to hoard and resell at higher prices,” Mr Mensah said.
Prices to be publicised nationwide
Mr Mensah said the approved prices would be announced on radio stations and through community information centres across the country.
He said the price schedule would also be widely shared on social media to ensure fishers and members of the public were adequately informed.
“We are taking the approved prices directly to the people. They will be announced on radio, broadcast through community information centres and shared widely on social media. No LBC can therefore claim that it was unaware of the approved prices,” he stated.
He added that any future adjustment to the price of premix fuel would be formally communicated to fishers and other industry stakeholders through the approved channels.
“Whenever there is a new price, the Ministry and the Secretariat will communicate it clearly for the information of fishers and all industry players. Until such an announcement is made, LBCs must continue to sell at the existing approved price,” he said.
Monitoring and sanctions
Mr Mensah said the nationwide public education campaign would also enable fishers to identify and report LBCs that imposed unauthorised charges.
He said the Secretariat would strengthen monitoring at landing beaches and investigate complaints involving overpricing, diversion and unauthorised resale.
“We will follow the distribution of the product from the oil marketing company to the landing beach. Any LBC found selling above the approved price, diverting supplies or conniving with middlemen will face sanctions,” he warned.
The Secretariat urged chief fishermen, canoe owners, fishers and members of the public to report LBCs that breach the approved price schedule.
Ms Arthur said the government would protect the premix fuel subsidy from abuse and ensure the product reached the fishing communities for which it was intended.
“The era when a few people took advantage of premix fuel at the expense of fishing communities must end. Public officials and committee members entrusted with the product must account for every consignment,” she said.
The Principal Nutrition Officer and Dietician at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Emelia Dery Gbogr has highlighted the nutritional benefits of kontomire.
According to Emelia Dery Gbogr, it offers greater nutritional value than some commonly consumed vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.
For her, kontomire, also known as cocoyam leaves, is a highly nutritious vegetable that should be part of a healthy diet.
She made the remarks during a Joy Sustainability Month discussion, where she highlighted the importance of locally available foods in promoting nutrition and healthy living.
“When you look at the nutritional values, our kontomire has some of the nutrients higher than broccoli or spinach.
When you look at the protein content of Kontomire, it is higher than that of broccoli; when you look at vitamins, it is high in Vitamin A.
We have a good amount of Vitamin A that is good for the body. Fibre levels are also higher compared to those of broccoli,” she said.
She encouraged Ghanaians to pay greater attention to indigenous vegetables such as kontomire, which are widely available and can provide important nutrients as part of a balanced diet.
“It is readily available to us, so compared to imported goods, its counterpart, which is broccoli or spinach, Kontomire is readily available. It grows easily, so you can have at your backyard, and compared to importation, you will have to pay more for the imported goods, so I will say that coming to cost wise, Kontomire is better,” she said.
