The Member of Parliament for Berekum West, Dickson Kyere-Duah, has weighed in on the recent tragedy in Burkina Faso that reportedly claimed the lives of Ghanaian tomato traders.

Responding to concerns raised by Samuel Ntim Fordjour over government’s handling of the incident, the Berekum West lawmaker condemned the attack but shifted focus to what he described as a deeper structural problem — Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported food items from neighbouring countries.

According to Hon. Kyere-Duah, Ghana requires approximately 800 metric tonnes of tomatoes annually, yet about 500 metric tonnes are imported from neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso and others within the sub-region.

He further revealed that the country spends an estimated $400 million annually importing such commodities, a situation he believes exposes traders to cross-border risks and economic vulnerabilities.

Call for Local Production

The MP argued that strengthening local agricultural production and agro-processing could significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imports.

“If we are able to produce and process these items here in Ghana, we can minimise such risks, protect our citizens, and reduce unnecessary loss of lives,” he indicated.

Hon. Kyere-Duah stressed that beyond condemning the tragic incident, Ghana must adopt deliberate policies to boost domestic production, enhance food security, and create jobs locally.

The comments add a new dimension to the ongoing political debate surrounding the Burkina Faso incident, with lawmakers offering differing perspectives on accountability and long-term solutions.