Europe interested in Ghana veggies – EU Amb.

It has been revealed that consumers across Europe are very interested in vegetables produced in Ghana, an indication that the ban placed on the export of some vegetables from Ghana to Europe will soon be lifted by the European Union (EU).

The EU Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna, has revealed that although a few vegetables produced in Ghana were not meeting the right qualities and standards for the European market, leading to the ban last year, plans were far advanced at ensuring that the ban was lifted.

“The market is there, the consumers in Europe are very interested in [buying] Ghanaian produce, but you’ve got to get the quality right. One of the problems we had last year was that a few vegetables were not meeting the right quality standards for the European markets; unfortunately we had to ban those vegetables,” he stated.

“…But the good news is that we are working together to try to ensure that they do meet the standards,” Mr Hanna told Citi FM Monday June 13.

In 2015, the EU threatened to sanction Ghana over some worm-infested vegetables it exported unto European markets. Government subsequently banned the export of such produce.

Prior to this, Ghana had been slapped with a three-month ban in 2014 after the EU intercepted some vegetables containing harmful organisms.

The three-month ban was to be lifted at the end of September 2014 when adequate corrective measures were implemented.