Case Study of Ghana - Medical Devices and Biomaterials for the Developing World - page 32

While the soybean is not a major agricultural product in Ghana, it is produced in the
northern regions of the nation as well as in surrounding countries. The use of soy in
biomaterials provides an additional outlet for utilization of current soy production
and an incentive for further scale-up of production, particularly in the coastal
regions.
Ghana's regulatory body, the Food and Drugs Board, exercises control over the
export and import of both food products and medical devices (FDB). According to
the updated fee schedule for 2010, local medical devices are subject to a fee of 600
Ghana Cedis (equivalent to USD 341.66), while foreign medical devices are
imported for a fee of USD 1,500. The tariff structure favors the development of
local devices that can be disseminated via regional trade.
Adoption of a biomaterial sector in Ghana based on corn- and soy-derived mate-
rials is feasible based on existing conditions. However, for optimization of such an
industry, more attention will need to be given to the production of the soybean.
Further inquiry into the logistical and regulatory challenges surrounding this issue
will inform the plan of action for the collaboration between the agricultural and
health sectors in years to come.