Organised rubber farmers and other actors within Ghana’s rubber value chain have rejected claims by the Association of Natural Rubber Actors of Ghana (ANRAG) that it represents the interests of rubber farmers and industry players nationwide.

In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the Rubber Farmers Association of Ghana (RUFAG), Mr Michael Kwaw Nyarku, the farmers said ANRAG lacked the legitimacy and mandate to present itself as an umbrella body for the natural rubber industry.

The statement followed a recent press release by ANRAG published on MyJoyOnline, in which the association commented on issues relating to rubber pricing, exports and value addition.

According to the farmers, while ANRAG has the right to exist as a registered association and advocate for its members, it cannot credibly claim to represent the entire rubber value chain.

“Representation in a value chain as diverse as rubber cannot be self-assigned,” the statement said, adding that any umbrella body must derive its legitimacy from broad-based consent and inclusive engagement with key stakeholders, particularly farmers.

The farmers accused ANRAG of excluding farmer groups from decision-making and advancing positions that serve the interests of a few processing and drying companies, rather than the wider industry.

They further challenged ANRAG’s assertions on pricing, describing them as lacking moral authority because the association is dominated by buyers rather than producers.

“If processors and dryers are already offering competitive prices, there should be no justification for calling for a ban on raw rubber exports,” the statement said, arguing that such calls point to fear of competition rather than concern for farmer welfare.

On claims that the rubber market is not monopolistic, the farmers maintained that the issue was not the number of processors but the conduct of the market, alleging coordinated pricing behaviour among buyers that disadvantages farmers.

The statement also dismissed ANRAG’s emphasis on value addition, describing it as misleading, and accused some processors of exporting rubber in raw or semi-processed form while seeking to deny farmers access to export markets.

The farmers disclosed that they had petitioned the President, the Ministers for Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industry, and other authorities to protest against restrictions on raw rubber exports.

They also rejected claims that exporters were responsible for credit financing risks in the sector, arguing that loan default challenges existed before exporters entered the market and were rooted in weaknesses within existing financing and off-take arrangements.

On regulation, the farmers said the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) had consulted relevant value-chain committees in line with established procedures, contrary to ANRAG’s claims.

The statement cautioned against any attempt by private associations to assume regulatory roles, stressing that matters relating to exports, valuation and compliance fall within the statutory mandate of the TCDA and other state institutions.

The farmers called for inclusive engagement, respect for institutional mandates and data-driven oversight to ensure sustainable growth of Ghana’s natural rubber industry.