Six Billion CFA spent in 6 months importing Tomatoes from Burkina Faso - Upper East Regional Minister
The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu disclosed in his office when a-three member executive of GNTTTA paid a working visit on him a day after a day technical section was held to discuss the challenges impeding quality tomatoes production in the region that within the last six months that is from December to May this year only over six billion CFA was spent in importing tomatoes from the neighboring country Burkina Faso while the region has what it takes to meet that huge tomatoes demand by consumers in Kumasi and Accra.
He assured the Ghana National Tomatoes Traders and Transporters Association (GNTTA) that the region is working around the clock to change the situation where the association refuses to buy the commodity from farmers in the region but buy it from the neighbouring Burkina Faso.
He also added that he is in the process of constituting a strong technical team to explore all the necessary opportunities available to create the desirable marketing environment for the Upper East Region to create employment for the farmers.
Hon. Yakubu went further to note that the region can boast of three dams such as Tonno, Vea, Tamne and the fourth one which is Pwalugu Multi –Purpose Dam awaiting construction work to start soon.
During the discussion, The National Chairman of GNTTTA, Mr. Eric Osei Tuffour indicated that they are not happy themselves spending so much money on the economy of different country to the disadvantage of Ghana.
He pledge the association readiness to do business with tomatoes farmers in the Upper East Region if only they produce quality and tasty tomatoes.
Source: Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.