Ghana needs to come up with her own certified standards for organic certification. We are torn between adopting North America standards and the European standards, this has resulted in the rejection and in some place embargo placed on our produce. So far in Ghana we know of Fair-trade certification, GlobalGAP certification and now Organic certification, even though we aware of other certification standards in the country.
Ghana Organic Standards may be set by governments by passing the said policies or regulations into laws. Governmental standards are usually called regulations, except when developed and administered by semi-independent agencies. This allows national governments to set more specific standards adapted to the needs and situation of the country. National regulations may in turn choose how to arrange the certification system, whether to accredit private certification bodies or to keep the certification in the hands of governmental bodies. Governments may develop a national product label, for exclusive use or for use alongside labels of certification bodies. Certification standards are voluntary in the sense that one can chose not to certify and not to carry the label. However, when using the certificate or label the producers and traders have to comply with the regulation.
The legal protection of the terms associated with organic-type production methods has resulted in governments developing their own organic regulation and becoming de facto standard-setting bodies, this where we are calling for GHANA’S OWN ORGANIC STANDARD that marries conservation and environmental management. This is necessary as governments may choose to recognize standards set by others. For ISO and organic standards, government agencies often do take the role of accreditation bodies, through which control can be exercised over the quality of certification services. Sometimes this role is delegated to a tripartite agency in the industry, consumers and government are represented (no unions, as such agencies do not normally deal with labour standards). If governments feel a certain standard or verification system is discriminating against certain producers or processors within its jurisdiction, it might wish to signal this to the relevant body.
