Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong has been sighted in a video revealing the present price for a box of tomatoes at an undisclosed market.

In the video gone viral, the Minister while in the presence of traders seated, noted that one could purchase a box of tomatoes at prices ranging from GHC400 to GHC500.

He suggested a further decline in the prices in months nearing the end of the year as the MOFA-engineered tomatoes make their way into the market.

His video is believed to be a response to concerns over the escalating prices of tomatoes for some months now.

In May this year, a female trader in Ghana expressed concern over the escalating prices of tomatoes.

In an interview, she mentioned that a bag of tomatoes costs GHC8,000, while a basket is sold at GHC1,500. A bucket, she said was priced at GH200. As such, a single tomato was sold for GHC5.

She also mentioned that some of her customers are opting for tomato puree as an alternative due to affordability issues and therefore called on the government to intervene and help control the rising cost of tomatoes.

The price of a box (adaka) of tomatoes increased by more than 360% in less than six months: January 2024 – GH¢1,500, June 2024 GH¢6,000 to GH¢7,000.

The rise in tomato prices can be attributed to many factors, including a delayed monsoon, insufficient production, and high temperatures.

Ranked 10th among 20 items with the highest inflation rates, fresh tomatoes have seen a substantial increase compared to the national inflation rate of 25%.

Tomato prices caused quite a stir on social media just around the time the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) revealed a staggering 46% inflation rate for the vegetable in its April Consumer Price Index report.

Before the GSS released its April figures, complaints flooded social media platforms like Twitter. Users from various regions lamented the exorbitant prices of tomatoes. Many shared photos depicting small quantities of tomatoes being sold at premium rates.

The surge in tomato prices has been attributed to a supply shortage, exacerbated by the off-season period. Ghana has had to import tomatoes from neighbouring Burkina Faso, which practices year-round tomato farming.