Following recent notifications relating to non-compliance with certain import requirements of some of Ghana’s vegetable exports to the UK, the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) (KIA) under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has had a Stakeholders meeting with exporters to discuss measures to avert any possible future ban.
To prevent future notifications from the UK, it is critical to adhere to laid down protocols as explained by Nicholina Ama Badu-Kotei, Deputy Director, and PPRSD (KIA).
Speaking to Agric Today, she said the PPRSD performs its mandated duties by inspecting the consignment to make sure each produce is free from pests and other unwanted debris.
She underscored how meticulous the Directorate is, in discharging its duties. “All consignments are expected to be at the inspection points at the stipulated time given. Inspections are done two (2) hours before the airline cut-off time. Documentary, integrity, and plant health checks are carried out assiduously to ensure zero tolerance for pests whether quarantine or non-quarantine”.
She urged the exporters to intensify their hard work to ensure good and healthy produce is exported to cease the incoming notifications from the UK.
In furtherance to ensure zero notification, the Head of Crop Pest at the Plant Protection and Regulatory Service Directorate (PPRSD), Copperfield K. Banini said Ghana would be able to achieve zero notification if the exporters are able to adhere to the protocols available.
“Some of the exporters do not pick the produce from the registered fields. Before someone exports the person has to register with PPRSD as an exporter or as a grower so that we map out your field and samples of the produce must come to our labs to analyze to determine whether the quality is good for export, some of them do not do that, they bypass us and send the products for export and at the long run pest and diseases are detected and as a result, we get the notification”, he added.
He called on the exporters to pick their products from registered out-growers because their farms are mapped out and regularly inspected for the production of quality products for export and adhere to the protocols at the ports to achieve notification free.
Dr. Felix Kamassah, the President of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana said in spite of the hard work from PPRSD the little negligence of their work amount to greater loss of the country in the international market.
He mentioned that the PPRSD is like a police service on the road, therefore, little favour that would be given out without strictness would amount to catastrophe for the country. “The major challenge we want to look at to go to the policymakers is PPRSD, we look at them as how we have police on the road when a driver doesn’t have insurance on the car and they do not allow the driver to move the car so it is the same thing applies to PPRSD as they ensure smooth export of quality products from Ghana”.
He acknowledged the organizers of the stakeholder’s meetings to address the imminent challenges in the export sector. He urged the PPRSD to continue organizing such meetings to curb further notifications.
He called on the farmers and fellow exporters to adhere to the protocols in order to protect and safeguard the image of the farmers and Ghana in general on the international front.
