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Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, held a bilateral meeting with the Ambassador of Burkina Faso on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The meeting also included the Chairman and Ranking Member of Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade and Tourism, as well as officials from both countries’ Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
During the discussions, Minister Ofosu-Adjare emphasized the longstanding and strong relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso, stressing that bilateral trade plays a vital role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and generating wealth for both nations. She also highlighted existing trade data and called for targeted efforts to boost trade volumes between the two countries.
She invited the Burkinabè delegation to submit a list of their top ten imports, to explore opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to competitively supply these products. The Minister praised Burkina Faso’s agricultural expertise, particularly in tomatoes and onions, and expressed Ghana’s interest in learning from their agricultural practices. She urged further collaboration in the sector to promote knowledge exchange and mutual growth.
Minister Ofosu-Adjare also noted the impact of recent insecurity in parts of Burkina Faso on cross-border trade, calling for joint measures to ensure the safety of Ghanaian traders operating in the region.
A key topic of the meeting was the indefinite suspension of fresh tomato exports from Burkina Faso. Ghana relies heavily on tomato imports from Burkina Faso, with around 70–80% of its tomatoes sourced from the neighboring country, representing an annual import value of approximately $400 million. The Minister acknowledged the challenges this policy poses to Ghana’s tomato supply chain and called for a mutually beneficial resolution that considers the concerns of both sides.
In response, the Burkinabè delegation explained that the export suspension is a strategic move aimed at securing adequate raw materials for the country’s newly established tomato processing factories, shifting towards domestic value addition and industrialization rather than relying on raw commodity exports.
Looking ahead, Minister Ofosu-Adjare announced plans to invite 20 to 50 Burkinabè traders and business operators to Ghana in the coming months to explore trade and business opportunities in various sectors. Both delegations reaffirmed the strength of their bilateral relationship and the importance of continued dialogue to address emerging challenges and foster deeper collaboration in trade, market access, and agricultural development.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to explore concrete opportunities for increased trade and to resolve future concerns through ongoing high-level diplomatic engagement.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source:Loco tv