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The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has called on the government to lift the existing ban on grain exports, arguing that the policy is stifling growth across the agricultural value chain and creating unintended consequences for farmers and agribusinesses. According to the Chamber, both the government and industry players are under growing pressure as the restrictions have led to a food glut, disrupting local markets and affecting the operations of food banks nationwide. The export ban, imposed in 2024 by the NPP government, covered key staples such as rice, maize, and soybeans. It was introduced in response to a prolonged drought that devastated farms in the northern and middle belts of the country, leading to widespread crop failures. Speaking at the 7th Agrofood and Plastprintpack Ghana 2025 exhibition in Accra, Anthony Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, said that removing the export restriction would help revitalize agricultural trade and create new market opportunities for local producers. “The restriction is creating challenges for the industry. So what do you do? Remove the ban and allow those with export capacity to operate,” Morrison said. “Government can instead introduce export and import quotas — setting limits on the quantities of rice, maize, and soybeans traded annually. That will create flexibility and allow the industry to function efficiently.” In a related development, Gregor Schneider, Trade Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, urged agribusinesses to protect their innovations through patent registration, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property in sustaining competitiveness. Data from VDMA, the German Machinery Association, indicates that Ghana’s food and beverage technology imports increased from €59 million in 2017 to €80 million in 2024, while packaging technology imports rose to €49 million during the same period — highlighting the sector’s growing modernization and investment potential.
