OPDAG declares war on smuggling of substandard vegetable oils

The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) has sounded an urgent alarm over the increasing smuggling of illegal and substandard vegetable oils into Ghana, warning that the practice threatens to cripple the nation’s oil palm industry and destroy thousands of livelihoods.

Speaking at a media engagement held at the Ghana International Press Centre on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the President of OPDAG, Paul Kwabena Amaning, said the association is deeply concerned about the growing influx of unwholesome vegetable oils smuggled into the country through unapproved routes.

He noted that the illegal trade not only undermines local producers but also poses a serious public health risk to consumers.

The press engagement follows a high-level stakeholder meeting organized by the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), chaired by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andrew Osei Okrah.

The meeting brought together regulators, industry players, and security agencies to deliberate on strategies to curb the menace of smuggling, which has plagued Ghana’s edible oil market for years.

At the meeting, Okrah proposed several key interventions to restore integrity to the sector.

These included the strict enforcement of traceability systems to track products from refineries to retail points using effective coding and waybill mechanisms.

He also emphasized mandatory registration and conveyance certification for all distributors and transporters under TCDA’s supervision.

In addition, Dr. Okrah called for stronger inter-agency collaboration involving the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and National Security to intensify surveillance at the country’s borders and markets.

He urged that offenders be prosecuted and given custodial sentences to deter others — citing recent enforcement actions by Goldbod, a private enforcement entity, as a positive example.

Amaning said OPDAG fully supports these recommendations and is committed to partnering with TCDA and other institutions to ensure full compliance.

According to him, these efforts are vital to protect the local industry from collapse and to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

“We cannot allow the smuggling of illegal vegetable oils to destroy the gains we have made over the years,” Amaning stated.

“If these illegal activities are not curtailed, our local industries could collapse, thousands of jobs could be lost, and the nation would lose significant revenue.”

Ghana currently cultivates about 300,000 hectares of oil palm, producing approximately 300,000 metric tonnes of crude palm oil annually.

However, national demand stands at 400,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of over 100,000 metric tonnes—a gap that smugglers have exploited to flood the market with cheap, often substandard imports.

The oil palm value chain, according to OPDAG, provides direct employment for about 1.2 million Ghanaians, including farmers, processors, transporters, and traders.

The association warns that without immediate government intervention, the sector could face severe disruptions, leading to widespread job losses and economic hardship.

OPDAG is therefore calling on the government to equip enforcement agencies with adequate resources and logistics to combat the illegal trade.

It also appealed to the media to play an active role in raising public awareness about the dangers of consuming uncertified oils and to help expose smuggling networks.