Editorial: Unprocessed export of raw rubber drains economy

Incessant illegal exportation of cup lumps continues to be a bane for growth of the local value addition quest.

The Rubber Association of Ghana (RUPAG) is therefore calling on security agencies to intervene in the illegal and unregulated export of raw rubber to save Ghanaian farmers and the economy.

In fact, this illegal trade contravenes the Tree Crops Development Authority’s (TCDA) directive under the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471). Chairman of the RUPAG, Emmanuel Akwasi Owusu, maintains that Ghana has the capacity and skilled manpower to process all locally produced rubber.

However, illegal exports deny the country’s processors access to raw materials; thereby putting their investments and jobs at serious risk.

Rubber production, processing and export is critical to government’s industrialisation strategy, particularly the 24-hour economy agenda which is premised on local value addition and sustained economic activity.

Unprocessed export of raw rubber drains the country of potential foreign exchange, stifles industrial development and weakens supply to local factories – which are all essential for continuous operations.

Thus, enforcing laws on value addition before export will lead to more jobs across the entire value chain.

Meanwhile, the Rubber Out Growers Plantation Project (ROPP), which supports over 11,800 farmers cultivating 55,599 hectares, faces serious disruption as illegal buyers lure farmers away from formal processing channels.

Despite the TCDA permit system introduced in April 2025 to control exports, smugglers reportedly bypass the rules – destabilising the market.

RUPAG is also calling for stronger public-private partnerships to protect investments, support local processing and position the rubber industry as a key pillar of Ghana’s industrial transformation.

The association urges the Ghana Police Service, National Security, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to: strengthen surveillance at all export points, intercept illegal shipments and prosecute offenders in line with the law.

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471) bans unprocessed export of cup lumps. It is therefore proper that RUPAG has alerted the security agencies to tackle incessant smuggling of raw rubber and ensure culprits are punished according to dictates of the law.

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