The Ghana Soybean Farmers and Aggregators Association has renewed its demand for the repeal of the Export and Import Restriction of Grains Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2467), arguing that the law has failed to achieve its intended purpose.
The export ban, initially imposed to ensure local processing factories had access to soybeans, has left farmers and aggregators struggling as processors remain unable to purchase the commodity.
According to Abdul Hakeem Issah, Director of Administration for the association, the restriction has disrupted the soybean market, forcing buyers to seek alternative sources in Benin, Togo and Nigeria, while Ghanaian farmers are left with surplus produce and no buyers.
“We want the current government to lift the ban and allow the export of the commodity especially soybean. Currently there are a lot of soybeans in the system but all the buyers have diverted to the other countries. They are in Benin, Togo and Nigeria. They are finding it difficult to come to Ghana just because of the announcement government is placing ban on export of soybean. The exporters are not coming. Farmers have the soybean and yet there is no market. So it’s a constrain. We don’t understand why the previous government was so much interested in placing the ban,” Abdul Hakeem Issah said.
Beyond the export restrictions, the association is also urging the government to rethink its fertiliser financing policy.
They argue that free fertiliser programs have been mismanaged, often serving as political patronage rather than benefiting real farmers.
Issah is calling for a removal of all taxes and levies on fertiliser imports and local production to make the product more affordable.
“Instead of government bringing in fertiliser to be able to pay some monies to the dealers to reduce the price, why don’t the government reduces all taxes and all levies on fertiliser so that the commodity will be come cheaper”, he suggested.
