Deputy Minister John Dumelo Forecasts Tomato Price Relief Amidst Scrutiny Over Cocoa and Gold Revenue Management

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo has announced that tomato prices across Ghana are expected to drop significantly in the coming weeks as local farmers begin their harvest. This development follows a period of extreme market volatility where the price for a basket of tomatoes surged from GH¢200 to GH¢700 due to reduced rainfall and supply shortfalls. To prevent future seasonal spikes, the government is launching a large-scale dry-season farming initiative in Northern Ghana scheduled from December 2026 to June 2027. This program includes the provision of solar-powered boreholes and irrigation inputs to ensure a more consistent year-round supply. While the outlook for vegetable prices is optimistic, Ghana's cocoa sector is facing intense scrutiny regarding the fair distribution of export profits. The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) has raised concerns over the disparity between the nation’s 99.2% surge in cocoa export earnings—rising from US$3.86 billion in 2025—and the modest 32.4% increase in producer prices. IERPP Executive Director Prof. Isaac Boadi argues that based on mathematical analysis, farmers should be receiving approximately GH¢4,100 per bag rather than the current GH¢2,500, calling for greater transparency from COCOBOD and the government regarding the allocation of cocoa revenues. In the broader commodities and extractive sectors, efforts toward sustainable management and self-sufficiency are gaining momentum. The Christian Council of Ghana recently commended the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and its CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, for their commitment to responsible gold trading and local refining initiatives aimed at stabilizing the macroeconomy. At the same time, regional Best Farmer Sumaila Doho is advocating for a shift in national policy to prioritize local maize production over imports. Doho emphasized that implementing guaranteed minimum prices and investing in storage facilities are critical steps to protect local producers from global supply chain disruptions and to secure Ghana’s long-term food independence. These combined efforts across the agricultural and mineral sectors highlight a national push toward balancing consumer affordability with equitable returns for local producers. As the government implements new irrigation and refining infrastructure, the focus remains on ensuring that the benefits of Ghana's natural resources and agricultural output are transparently and fairly distributed to support the livelihoods of those at the base of the economy.