Ghana: $50million revenue loss looms if EU bans vegetable exports

Ghana will lose approximately $50 million in revenue if the European Union (EU) enforces a ban on the export of vegetables and other produce from the country, due to the continued devastation caused by illegal mining activities. The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) has expressed concerns over the severe consequences a potential EU ban would have on their industry. In October 2014, the EU imposed a three-year ban on the import of gourds and Asian vegetables, including chillies and aubergines, to the union from Ghana, citing concerns over pest infestations that posed risks to the EU's ecosystem. This resulted in a revenue loss of approximately $30 million for Ghana. After an assessment by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office, the ban was lifted. However, the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association fears a repeat of this situation due to the ongoing pollution of water bodies used for irrigation, a consequence of illegal mining activities. In an ...