A troubling wave of unapproved raw rubber exports is raising alarm within the agribusiness sector, spotlighting serious regulatory lapses by the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) and threatening integrity of the country’s industrialisation agenda.
Despite a clear directive issued in May 2025 under Regulation 50 of the Tree Crop Regulation, 2023 (L.I. 2471) – which mandates that exporters of unprocessed rubber, cashew and shea obtain permits before shipping – truckloads of raw rubber are allegedly being hauled from major producing areas to Tema, bypassing all regulatory controls.
Inquiries by B&FT, including photographic documentation and stakeholder interviews, confirm that raw rubber is being transported from Ahanta West, Nzema East, Jomorro, Ellembele, Amenfi and Tarkwa-Nsuaem areas with active plantations directly to Tema, where no licenced rubber processors operate.Energy panels
The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), created under Act 1010 in 2019, is mandated to regulate and promote Ghana’s tree crop sector – including rubber, cashew, oil palm, mango, coconut and shea.
The export permit requirement was designed to protect local processors, stimulate value addition and ensure that raw material exports comply with national priorities, including the 24-hour economy strategy. Yet, stakeholders say the policy is being flouted with impunity.
“In weeks following the directive, we saw increased supply to local factories,” said one industry source. “But that quickly dried up. What we now have is open smuggling under regulatory blindspots.”
In a telephone interview, TCDA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Okrah admitted the Authority had received complaints from rubber outgrowers about the illegal movement of raw rubber, but said the agency has been unable to pinpoint loading sites.
Credit: BFTONLINE