Ghana: Soybean export ban is uncalled for

By Deborah Asantewaah SARFO The Soya Value Chain Association of Ghana (SVCAG) has raised concerns about the recent ban on soya exportation, describing it as “uncalled for”. They bemoaned the ban’s impact, noting that it is negatively affecting the farmers and sector it is intended to protect. According to the association’s Executive General Secretary, Yaw Afrifa, a ban on exports usually benefits local producers, yet they lack the financial muscle to purchase soybeans from farmers – and at the same time, the ban on exports is hindering exporters with available cash from buying the produce and enabling farmers to compensate for their losses caused by drought. He therefore called on Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong to lift the ban, which “could complicate things” – and further suggested that if government is not willing to help processors absorb all the soya beans and prevent wastage, then the ban is unnecessary as farmers would be denied both alternatives or ...