The initiative, spearheaded by sector minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, aims to facilitate pre-shipment inspections of perishable goods—such as vegetables—at Ghanaian ports, ensuring they meet EU standards before leaving the country.

“This will drastically cut down on goods being rejected or destroyed on arrival in Europe, saving our exporters considerable costs,” the Minister said, following high-level discussions with EU officials at a recent conference.

Ghana previously suffered significant losses—estimated at over US$30 million—after the EU imposed a 2014 ban on gourds and select Asian vegetables, including chillies and aubergines, due to pest infestation concerns.

As part of the broader strategy, the government also plans to upgrade and accredit local laboratories to align with global sanitary and quality testing standards, enhancing Ghana’s competitiveness in international markets.

“We are committed to upgrading our local laboratories to meet international standards,” she affirmed.

The move is expected to improve export reliability, minimize compliance-related losses, and strengthen Ghana’s position as a trusted trade partner within the EU supply chain—particularly amid rising scrutiny over quality and increasing logistics costs.