(Ecofin Agency) - Ghana’s oil palm industry has been struggling for some time now following a series of incidents that led the international market to start doubting the quality of local production. After the announcement of news about use of Sudan IV, a product used to make palm oil redder but also a cancer-causing agent, it has been revealed that centipedes were also being used for the same purpose. This was announced last February.    

Following these announcements, global demand for palm oil fell as controls tighten at borders of importing countries. “I personally exported containers of oil to Italy early this year, but it took two months of testing by European officials before it was released to my foreign client,” said Abena Nyamekye who heads the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana. She added that the industry was going through a trust crisis.  

Locally, palm oil’s price plunged thus forcing local firms to cut down their staff.

Aaron Akinocho