Ghana’s Rubber Farmers Push Back as Industry Representation Dispute Deepens

Accra, Ghana — Organised rubber farmers and key actors across Ghana’s natural rubber value chain have publicly rejected claims by the Association of Natural Rubber Actors of Ghana (ANRAG) that it represents the interests of rubber farmers and industry players nationwide, deepening a growing dispute over power, pricing, and control within the sector.

In a statement signed by Mr. Michael Kwaw Nyarku, General Secretary of the Rubber Farmers Association of Ghana (RUFAG), farmers said ANRAG lacks both the legitimacy and mandate to present itself as an umbrella body for the industry.

The response follows a recent ANRAG press release published by MyJoyOnline, in which the association commented on rubber pricing, exports, and value addition. Farmers say the assertions misrepresent both the structure and realities of Ghana’s rubber market.

“Representation in a value chain as diverse as rubber cannot be self-assigned,” the statement said, stressing that any umbrella organisation must derive authority from broad-based consent and inclusive engagement, particularly with farmers who form the backbone of production.

While acknowledging ANRAG’s right to exist as a registered association and advocate for its members, RUFAG argued that the group cannot credibly speak for the entire rubber value chain. According to the farmers, ANRAG is dominated by processors and drying companies, whose interests often diverge from those of producers.

The farmers further accused ANRAG of excluding farmer groups from decision-making and advancing positions that benefit a narrow segment of buyers rather than the industry as a whole.

At the heart of the dispute is pricing and exports. Farmers challenged ANRAG’s moral authority to comment on pricing, arguing that buyers cannot credibly position themselves as neutral voices on farmer welfare.

“If processors and dryers are already offering competitive prices, there should be no justification for calling for a ban on raw rubber exports,” the statement said, adding that such calls reflect fear of competition, not concern for farmers.

ANRAG’s claim that the rubber market is not monopolistic was also disputed. Farmers said the issue is not the number of processors, but market conduct, alleging coordinated pricing behaviour that suppresses farm-gate prices.

The statement dismissed ANRAG’s emphasis on value addition as misleading, accusing some processors of exporting rubber in raw or semi-processed form while simultaneously seeking to restrict farmers’ access to export markets.

Farmers revealed that they have petitioned the President, as well as the Ministers for Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industry, to protest against any restrictions on raw rubber exports.

They also rejected claims that exporters are responsible for financing risks in the sector, noting that loan default challenges existed long before exporters entered the market and stem from structural weaknesses in financing and off-take arrangements.

On regulation, the farmers countered ANRAG’s claims by stating that the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) followed due process and consulted relevant value-chain committees in line with established procedures.

The statement warned against private associations attempting to assume regulatory authority, stressing that exports, valuation, and compliance fall squarely within the statutory mandate of the TCDA and other state institutions.

The farmers concluded with a call for inclusive engagement, respect for institutional mandates, and data-driven oversight, warning that misrepresentation and concentration of power could undermine the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s natural rubber industry.

Source: Accra Business News