Ghana’s Vegetable Export Hub Faces Uncertain Future as Eviction Fears Mount
Ghana’s vegetable exporters are on edge over a potential eviction from their long-standing base at Cantonments, a development they warn could disrupt export flows, threaten livelihoods, and undermine access to key international markets.
The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) says its members who ship highly perishable produce daily through Kotoka International Airport (KIA) stand to face severe logistical and financial setbacks if relocated without a suitable alternative near the airport.
Sector Backbone Under Strain
Established in 1997, VEPEAG represents over 1,000 vegetable producers and exporters across seven regions, supplying markets abroad with okra, chili, shallots, sweet potatoes and other high-value horticultural crops. The association operates from 4th Giffard Road near Burma Camp, historically part of an Agric Mechanization enclave under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
But the area is changing fast. Agric Mechanization Services, which shared a boundary with VEPEAG, has been moved, and private developers have already taken over part of its former space. New structures are rising rapidly, deepening fears that VEPEAG’s facility could be the next to go.
“We don’t know what is happening. What we see around us is inching closer by the hour,” said VEPEAG President, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah.
Growing Anxiety Over Possible Relocation
Dr. Kamassah said exporters remain in limbo as they await clarity from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The association has formally requested a meeting with the Lands Minister after Lands Commission officials recently surveyed the area.
“We are engaging the ministries to understand whether we are going or staying. We cannot fight the government, but our role in the economy is critical. Over 5,000 people depend on this work, and some export every day,” he said.
Exporters fear a return to a relocation proposal under a previous administration, which sought to move their operations to Dodowa a location exporters protested due to long commuting times and risks of missing outbound flights with perishable cargo.
Perishables at Risk
VEPEAG’s Cantonments base was chosen for its proximity to the airport, allowing fresh produce to move quickly into cold storage and onto flights. The site also hosts a packhouse and cooling rooms—facilities that are costly and technically challenging to relocate.
“It is not easy to move a cooling room. If they want us to relocate, the new site must be close enough to the airport so that produce can be preserved and shipped on time,” Dr. Kamassah said.
He warned that a poorly planned relocation could trigger renewed compliance issues, recalling previous bans on Ghanaian vegetables over phytosanitary lapses.
Exporters Brace for Impact
The uncertainty is already influencing business decisions. Some members are scouting new locations on their own, fearing a sudden eviction.
“Some exporters are complaining bitterly. People are confused because the signal out there is that we will be moved,” Dr. Kamassah said.
Despite the anxiety, VEPEAG acknowledges recent government engagement, noting visits from officials at the presidency and relevant ministries.
“We are hopeful that the ministries will work with us to find a solution that protects our markets and sustains our contribution to the economy,” he added.
