(Ecofin Agency) - Between 2015 and 2017, the ban imposed by the European Union (EU) on vegetable imports from Ghana, cost the nation’s horticultural industry about $36 million. This was disclosed last week by the Ghanaian minister of food and agriculture.

The ban, put in place on October 2015, after the discovery of pests in cargoes destined to the EU and affecting among others, peppers, eggplants, squashes, pumpkins was issued at a time when Ghana’s vegetable exports generated close to $18 million per year.

Let’s recall that Ghana was allowed to restart vegetable exports to Europe starting from January 1, 2018, with the approval of the European Union’s commission’s health and food security department. This regarding the country’s conformity with its vegetables’ phytosanitary standards.

Espoir Olodo