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Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen has appointed a seven-member soybean export licensing committee.
The regulatory working group follows the Export and Import – Restrictions on Exportation of Soya, Regulation 2020 (LI 2432) which entered into force in December 2020.
Reports suggest a dramatic increase in Ghana’s soybean exports.
This has resulted in competition among exporters while creating shortages of products for the livestock and poultry industry. Price increases have also made local processing expensive.
Mr Kyerematen is concerned that the situation “goes against the goal for which soybean production is subsidized by the government under the Plant for Food and Jobs program.”
The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, launched and implemented the Plant for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program in 2017 with the aim of dramatically increasing the production of various food crops, especially soybeans.
Soybean production, which is currently subsidized by the government, is to boost domestic production of livestock and poultry.
In addition, under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has supported a number of poultry feed processing companies.
This has led to a significant increase in local poultry production, hence a strong demand for soybeans which is one of the main raw materials.
Speaking at a ceremony in Accra to inaugurate the committee, Kyerematen noted that his outfit called for a process to regulate the export of soybeans to reduce the unhealthy trend.
“In this regard, the ministry has started the process of establishing restrictions on the export and import of soybeans.
“Parliament adopted this new Export and Import – Restrictions on Exportation of Soya Bean, Regulation 2020 (LI 2432)” legislation in October 2020 and came into force in December of the same year, ”he said.
Export legislation required that a committee be set up to implement the regulations.
Article 3 (2) of the legislation states that the export licensing committee should be composed of a representative of; Ministry of Commerce and Industry not below the rank of a director. – President, Ministry of Food and Agriculture not below the rank of Director and Ghana Export Promotion Authority not below the rank of Director.
The others are the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority not below the rank of Director, Food & Drugs Authority not below the rank of Director, Poultry Farmers Association (appointed by the Minister responsible for Food and agriculture) and soybean producers (appointed by the Minister in charge of Food and Agriculture).
Mr. Alan Kyerematen hoped that the Committee would be diligent in its responsibilities to ensure effective regulation of soybean exports.
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