The Association of Natural Rubber Actors of Ghana (ANRAG) has thrown its weight behind calls by members of the Western Regional House of Chiefs for a total ban on the export of raw natural rubber, describing the policy proposal as a necessary corrective measure to save Ghana’s domestic rubber industry from decline.
In a press statement issued in Takoradi on December 19, 2025, ANRAG sought to allay fears among farmers, nursery operators, traders and service providers that a ban on raw rubber exports could disrupt livelihoods along the value chain.
Instead, the Association insisted that the move would stabilise the industry, promote value addition and secure long-term sustainability, while preserving and even expanding employment opportunities.
The statement comes on the heels of strong advocacy by prominent members of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, led by its President, Nana Kobina Nketiah V, who have consistently demanded a complete ban, rather than a restriction, on the export of raw natural rubber.
The chiefs argue that continued export of unprocessed rubber undermines local factories, deprives the country of value-added revenue and weakens Ghana’s industrial base.
ANRAG’s position mirrors that of the traditional authorities, reinforcing the growing consensus among industry players and opinion leaders in the Western Region that Ghana must urgently rethink its rubber export policy.
According to ANRAG, the proposed ban is not intended to disadvantage any category of actors within the rubber value chain, nor will it lead to job losses, as feared by some stakeholders. Rather, it is aimed at preventing the erosion of domestic processing capacity and safeguarding the broader national interest.
“Ghana cannot continue to export raw materials at the expense of its own factories and workers,” the chiefs have argued in recent public engagements, warning that local processors risk collapse if current trends persist.
ANRAG echoed this concern, noting that unchecked raw exports weaken domestic demand, discourage investment in processing and ultimately threaten farmers themselves.
On the sensitive issue of pricing, which has been a major concern for rubber farmers, ANRAG assured producers that they would continue to receive fair and competitive prices for their produce. The Association stressed that, under existing legislation, the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) will continue to set the minimum factory gate price for natural rubber, which remains binding on all licensed processors, traders and aggregators.
This assurance aligns with the position of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, who have repeatedly emphasised that farmers must be protected under any new policy regime.
The chiefs have argued that a strong domestic processing sector, backed by enforceable pricing mechanisms, offers farmers greater security than dependence on volatile export markets.
ANRAG further disclosed that processors remain committed to existing purchasing arrangements, including direct purchases from farmers as well as transactions through licensed aggregators and traders.
The Association maintained that a ban on raw rubber exports would not disrupt market access for producers or intermediaries, but would rather deepen local market activity.
Beyond pricing and market access, ANRAG announced plans to roll out a comprehensive technical assistance programme for farmers.
This will focus on improved agronomic practices, structured planting programmes to expand and rehabilitate plantations nationwide, and targeted interventions to strengthen sustainability across the sector.
Significantly, nursery operators – another group that had expressed anxiety over the proposed ban – were also given firm assurances. ANRAG stated that strengthened domestic processing and renewed investor confidence would stimulate increased demand for certified planting materials, creating sustained business opportunities for nursery operators.
The Association also pledged to work towards improving the corporate governance frameworks of rubber value chain associations to enhance accountability, efficiency and long-term resilience, an area traditional leaders have frequently criticised as weak and fragmented.
Observers say the convergence of views between ANRAG and the Western Regional House of Chiefs could exert considerable pressure on government to move beyond policy rhetoric to decisive action.
While recent budget statements have hinted at restrictions on raw rubber exports, the chiefs have been unequivocal that only a total ban would deliver the desired industrial transformation.
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