Beginning May 2, individuals and businesses exporting unprocessed rubber, cashew, or shea from Ghana will need written approval from the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA).

This new requirement is part of efforts to enforce stricter regulation and promote value addition within the sector.

The announcement, made in a public notice signed by Andy Osei Okrah, CEO of the TCDA, is backed by the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) and the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471). These laws guide the management, processing, and marketing of priority crops such as cashew, shea, rubber, mango, coconut, and oil palm.

As stated in the notice, Regulation 50 of L.I. 2471 will be enforced from the effective date, requiring that exporters of raw cashew, rubber, and shea obtain an official export permit before any shipments are made.

“All actors and stakeholders in the export of raw rubber, cashew, and shea are hereby notified to comply fully with the provisions of the Tree Crops Regulations,” the TCDA stated.

Additionally, registered exporters are being asked to align their operations with the Authority’s regulations by regularizing their export transactions.

The TCDA further explained that exporters must now show proof of payment of development levies to the Authority in order to receive a Phytosanitary Certificate from the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD).

This certificate is essential for export, and without verification of levy payment, it will not be issued.

The Authority warned that any violations of this directive will be considered legal infractions and will attract penalties as outlined under the TCDA Act.

This policy is part of a larger TCDA initiative aimed at enforcing compliance, increasing local processing, and strengthening Ghana’s economy through a well-regulated and sustainable tree crop export system.