The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has officially launched the GSA Organic Certification Scheme, a landmark initiative designed to provide credible, internationally aligned certification for organic agricultural products and position Ghanaian farmers to access premium global markets.
Speaking at the stakeholder engagement and launch event in Accra, the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. George Agyei, described the scheme as a transformative step toward advancing sustainable agriculture, improving market access, and ensuring fair returns for organic producers.
Delivering a keynote address under the theme, “Advancing Sustainable Agriculture through Credible Organic Certification,” Prof. Agyei noted that Ghanaian farmers who invest in organic production have long been unable to benefit fully from the growing global demand for certified organic products due to the absence of a nationally recognized certification framework.
“Today, that changes,” he declared. “The GSA Organic Certification Scheme provides the institutional architecture needed to verify organic claims, protect consumer trust, and enable farmers to access premium international markets.”
The Director-General highlighted the rapid growth of the global organic food sector, which exceeded US$220 billion in value in 2024 and is projected to surpass US$380 billion by 2030. He emphasized that Ghana’s cocoa, shea, cashew, fruits, vegetables, and spices are well-positioned to benefit from this expanding market if supported by credible certification systems.
The newly launched certification scheme is built on ISO/IEC 17065, the internationally recognized standard for product certification bodies, and is aligned with the European Union Organic Regulation 2018/848. The framework covers crops, horticultural products, fruits, and vegetables, and incorporates a rigorous certification cycle comprising application, audit, certification decision, and ongoing surveillance.
Prof. Agyei further announced that the Authority is pursuing international accreditation as part of a strategic roadmap aimed at securing global recognition and facilitating access to key export markets, including the European Union.
He commended the Government of Germany, through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), for their support in strengthening Ghana’s quality infrastructure and building the capacity required to establish the certification scheme.
“The partnership has enabled us to invest in laboratory infrastructure, technical expertise, and institutional systems that will ensure the sustainability and credibility of the programme,” he said.
The Director-General also underscored the broader regional significance of the initiative, noting that Ghana is well positioned to become a leading organic certification hub for West Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He called on farmer cooperatives, agribusinesses, development partners, and policymakers to actively engage with the scheme and contribute to the growth of a competitive, sustainable, and internationally recognized organic agriculture sector.
“The integrity of organic agriculture depends on trust, transparency, and accountability,” Prof. Agyei stated. “The GSA Organic Certification Scheme is our commitment to farmers, consumers, trading partners, and the future of Ghanaian quality.”
The launch marks a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen sustainable agricultural production, promote export competitiveness, and enhance confidence in organic products originating from the country.
Citizen Kofi Owusu
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