Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) have expressed fears over an imminent ban on vegetable exports in Ghana by the European Union over the deteriorating effects of galamsey.
VEPEAG contends that without clear guidelines, the enforcement of a ban could jeopardise countless jobs and result in significant financial losses.
Speaking at a press briefing on September 17, 2024, VEPEAG President Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamasah urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further harm to the agricultural sector.
“We want to tell the government that they should quickly come out with a policy in terms of standard and quality and the measures we can put in place.
This will enable us to secure what we are doing. Because when the ban is enforced, a lot of people will lose their jobs. Most of the youth have a lot of interest in vegetable farming or agribusiness,” he said.
Ghana previously faced a similar situation in 2014 when the EU imposed a three-year ban on the import of certain vegetables due to pest infestations.
The ban led to an estimated $30 million revenue loss for the country before it was lifted following compliance with EU standards.
This time, VEPEAG is particularly alarmed about the pollution of water sources used for irrigation, which has been worsened by illegal mining activities. Dr. Kamasah warned that Ghana could lose up to $50 million in revenue if swift measures are not taken.
“If the ban is enforced, we are looking at around 50 million dollars which will be lost,” he noted.
To push for government action, VEPEAG plans to join Organized Labour in a demonstration against the government by the end of September if no decisive policy is introduced to tackle the galamsey issue.
Dr. Kamasah added, “If the president does not come out with a policy by the close of the month, if we don’t hear anything from him, we will join the Labour people.”
The association continues to call for urgent measures to address environmental degradation and protect the livelihoods of those involved in Ghana’s vegetable export industry.