Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on district assemblies in the Upper West Region to take urgent steps to revive tomato production in Sankana as part of efforts to strengthen local food systems and reduce dependence on imports.

She said Sankana, once a thriving centre for tomato cultivation, still holds significant potential to reclaim its status if local authorities work closely with farming communities to scale up production.

The Vice President made the call during the Sankana Festival, where she emphasised the need to prioritise agriculture as a key driver of economic growth and food security.

Her remarks follow recent attacks on Ghanaian tomato farmers which led to the death of eight in Burkina Faso, which have heightened concerns about the country’s reliance on external sources for the commodity.

“Agriculture as we know is also very important to our national development agenda. Sankana is well positioned to benefit from ongoing efforts to strengthen food production and agro-processing,” she stressed.

Beyond agriculture, Professor Opoku-Agyemang underscored the importance of peace and stability in driving development, urging residents to maintain harmony within their communities.

“Every aspect of national development rests on peace. Where stability holds, businesses can grow, farmers can invest in their land and children can thrive,” she said.

She also highlighted government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the northern part of the country, pointing to ongoing road projects aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic activity.

According to her, the Wa–Tumu–Navrongo road is currently under construction, while work has also commenced on the Wa–Sawla road.

The Vice President said such interventions, alongside efforts to boost agriculture, form part of a broader strategy to accelerate development and improve livelihoods across the region.

Source: Citi FM