Ghana Association of Tomato Importers is on a collision course with non-member importers who they accuse of importing low quality products.
Members say some Ghanaian and Burkinabe distributors are flooding the local market with inferior products at the expense of local producers.
There are reports of confrontation between members of the Ghana Association of Tomato Importers and independent importers.
The association accuses independent importers of bringing in cheap low quality tomatoes.
Until the independent importers joined the trade, the association regulated distribution of the highly perishable vegetable.
President of the association, Eric Osei Kufour, says government’s intervention will be crucial in addressing the challenge.
“We have people who sort the tomatoes for us so we go through all these to ensure what we import is of high quality unlike them, so their tomatoes are cheaper”, he said.
Independent importers dismiss claims their products are of low quality.
Salamatu Alhassan, one of the importers, says they go through necessary procedures before importing into the country.
Meanwhile, some traders who spoke with Nhyira News suggest the independent importers have become their more preferred option.
They cite packaging convenience and lower prices as their reasons.