Tree Crops Development Authority refutes GHS600 million rubber export fraud claims

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has denied claims of wrongdoing in Ghana's raw rubber exports.

Some media outlets reported that rubber exports showed signs of under-invoicing. They also spoke of financial irregularities.

TCDA says these reports are misleading. The Authority stated the publications lacked real data.

The TCDA is the main group that regulates tree crops. It said the Daily Graphic did not ask for its side of the story. This was before the newspaper published its report on March 31, 2026. Other reports were from New Republic on April 2, 2026, and MyJoyOnline on April 1, 2026.

The TCDA said that comparing export numbers from 2024 and 2025 was wrong. The rules for raw rubber export permits started on May 2, 2025. This means 2024 data cannot be used in the same way because the rules were not in place then.

Reports said pricing was unusual. TCDA explained that prices change every month. This is based on world market rates. So, using yearly average prices is not reliable.

The reports talked about large sums of money, like GHS615 million and GHS260 million. TCDA said these numbers were not checked by any official group. This includes the Ghana Revenue Authority or the Ministry of Finance.

TCDA also spoke about claims that exporters kept money outside Ghana. The Authority said only the Bank of Ghana can check these things. The reports did not confirm these claims with the Bank of Ghana.

TCDA stressed that farmers can sell rubber to any buyer with a license. This includes buyers within Ghana or in other countries.

The Authority has asked for an apology and a public correction from the media houses. It wants this to happen by April 10, 2026.