Government has reaffirmed its commitment to large scale local raw material production following high level talks with Spanish officials and executives of GB Foods Africa on expanding tomato cultivation and processing in Ghana.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, gave the assurance during a meeting at the Ministry in Accra on Monday, February 16, 2026, with the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Angel Lossada Torres-Quevedo, the Chief Executive Officer of GB Foods Africa, Vicenç Bosch, Dr J Teddy Ngu, Director of Institutional Affairs and Agribusiness, Africa at GB Foods, and officials from the Spanish Embassy.
The discussions centred on strengthening Ghana and Spain cooperation in agribusiness, particularly tomato production and processing, as part of efforts to boost food security and cut down on imports.
Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo described GB Foods Africa as one of the most important and reliable agribusiness companies operating on the continent, with investments that create jobs and deliver social and economic benefits to local communities.
“We are launching important work together regarding the agribusiness industry,” he said, stressing the company’s long standing experience in Africa and its commitment to sustainable partnerships.
For Mr Bosch, the company’s presence in Ghana goes beyond commercial interest. He said its flagship brand, Gino, has become a household name, but the bigger goal is to deepen local production.
“For us, this is about developing the industry where we operate. It is not about importing, it is about building local capacity,” he said.
He revealed that GB Foods Africa has secured 6,000 acres of land in the Afram Plains for tomato cultivation, more than three times the size of its existing farm in Nigeria, currently one of the largest tomato farms in the region. The company has been piloting tomato farming and processing in Ghana over the past two years, with harvesting expected in the coming weeks.
Mr Bosch said early results are encouraging. While average yields in parts of Central Africa range between five and ten tonnes per acre, compared to about 180 tonnes in China and 140 tonnes in Spain, the company has increased yields in Nigeria to between 60 and 70 tonnes per acre. In Ghana, the first year pilot recorded 20 tonnes per acre, with projections to double to 40 tonnes in the second year.
Despite the progress, he acknowledged the stiff competition from low cost tomato imports and called for supportive policy measures, including quota arrangements similar to those introduced in Senegal and Nigeria, to allow local production to scale sustainably within five to seven years.
“We have left all our pieces and now we are waiting for cooperation to make the next move,” he said, urging a policy framework that supports the entire industry.
Responding, Madam Ofosu-Adjare welcomed the investment, describing it as consistent with government’s industrialisation and food security agenda under President John Dramani Mahama.
She stressed that producing raw materials locally is critical to protecting Ghana’s industries from external shocks.
“If you have the industry here but your raw material is somewhere you do not control, when there is a problem there, you suffer. We are committed to ensuring that raw materials are produced in Ghana so that food security can be assured,” she said.
The Minister commended the company for maintaining high production standards and expanding into local products such as shito, a staple in many Ghanaian homes. She assured the delegation that government would continue discussions to explore policy options that will support expansion while safeguarding returns on investment.
“It is easy to import. But when you invest in this country, it means you have come to scale. Government also has to perform its side of the bargain,” she said.
She also encouraged the company to share technical expertise with local farmers to improve yields and quality across the tomato value chain, noting the central role tomatoes play in Ghanaian cuisine and livelihoods.
The meeting signals renewed momentum in Ghana and Spain economic relations, with tomato cultivation and processing emerging as a strategic driver of industrial growth, job creation and strengthened food security.
