The Vice President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs (W/R-HC), Nana Kwesi Agyemang IX, has issued a sharp warning that local rubber processing factories face operational collapse if government continues to delay laying a Legislative Instrument (LI) before parliament to enforce its promised restriction on raw rubber exports.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Chiefs on Whose Lands Ghana Rubber Estate Operates (ACLANGO), Nana Agyemang expressed frustration at the absence of concrete legislative action despite a clear commitment made in the 2026 national budget.
“Government announced in the 2026 budget that it would restrict the export of raw rubber this year. Two to three months into 2026, however, there is no trace of a Legislative Instrument to enforce the restriction. We are calling on government to speed up the process to demonstrate seriousness,” he said.
The call comes months after the Western Regional House of Chiefs, at its sitting in November last year, unanimously resolved to support a total ban on raw rubber exports. The House President, Nana Kobina Nketiah, subsequently read a formal resolution outlining its position.
Nana Agyemang, who also chairs ACLANGO, said approximately seven rubber processing factories are currently in operation and urgently need consistent volumes of raw rubber to sustain production, protect jobs, and generate revenue for the state through value addition. He warned that the diversion of unprocessed rubber to foreign markets is steadily starving these factories of essential raw materials.
“Our local processors are being denied the raw rubber they require. If this continues, it will affect jobs, production levels and ultimately government revenue,” he cautioned.
He stressed that swift passage of the LI would protect domestic industry and position Ghana to earn significantly more from finished rubber products rather than raw commodity shipments.
Nana Agyemang also raised concern about the threat posed by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, to rubber plantations in the Western Region. He called on government to intensify enforcement and issued a direct warning to chiefs found to be complicit.
“The activities of galamsey are seriously affecting rubber plantations. We urge government to act decisively. Any chief involved should desist immediately. The Association will not come to the aid of anyone who engages in such illegal acts,” he said.
He commended Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) for its continued investment in host communities, including the provision of drinking water, schools, and community centres, while appealing for the establishment of additional weighing centres to ease access for rubber farmers.
