Ghana’s tree crop sector, including cocoa has received a crucial one-year reprieve as the European Union (EU) Parliament has approved a postponement of the enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The new enforcement date is now set for December 30, 2025, offering Ghana’s exporters and agricultural stakeholders additional time to prepare.
For months leading up to the EU Parliament’s decision on November 14, 2024, the tree crop industry in Ghana—spanning cocoa, oil palm, cashew, and coconut—had been on edge.
The regulation, initially set to take effect on December 30, 2024, requires entities trading with the EU to prove their products are deforestation-free and not linked to illegal forest activities.
The stakes are high for Ghana, which alongside Ivory Coast, produces over 65% of the world’s cocoa supply. While the EU has acknowledged Ghana’s relatively advanced preparedness—thanks to its early adoption of farm traceability systems—sector players fear a significant roadblock: illegal mining (galamsey).
The destructive environmental effects of galamsey, which have surged in recent months, threaten the country’s ability to meet the regulation’s stringent deforestation-free criteria.
Smallholder associations across Africa and Indonesia have shown mixed reactions to the regulation. While some feel ready, others, including stakeholders in Ghana, insist on the need for additional government support to meet compliance standards.
The one-year grace period provides a critical window for Ghana to address these challenges.
However, as enforcement draws closer, the question remains: can Ghana leverage this time to mitigate galamsey’s environmental toll and safeguard its priced cocoa sector’s access to the EU market?
