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The government has secured a $500,000 USD loan facility to support the planting of 100,000 hectares of oil palm across the country between now and 2032, as part of efforts to expand Ghana’s tree crops sector and boost agro-industrial development.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority, TCDA, Mr. Andy Osei Okrah, during the official launch of the nationwide distribution of agricultural inputs to tree crop farmers for the 2026 planting season at Dufie Park, Mampong in the Ashanti Region.
The event was attended by Nana Mamponghene Daasebre Osei Bonsu III, Municipal Chief Executive, traditional leaders, development partners, farmer groups and other stakeholders.
Mr. Osei Okrah said TCDA has the statutory responsibility to regulate and promote Ghana’s six strategic tree crops: cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea, collectively known as CCORMS.
He noted that these commodities are critical to rural livelihoods, employment, agro-industrial development and export earnings, and currently support an estimated 1.6 million households nationwide.
“Today’s gathering goes beyond the handing-over of agricultural inputs. It demonstrates Government’s renewed commitment, through the TCDA, to improving productivity, farmer incomes, sustainability and value addition within Ghana’s tree crops sector,” he stated.
The CEO disclosed that the newly secured $500,000 loan will be deployed to support large-scale oil palm cultivation, with a target of establishing 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations by 2032.
He explained that the expansion is expected to address raw material shortages for the domestic processing industry, create jobs, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported vegetable oils.
The oil palm drive forms part of a broader government strategy to reposition tree crops as a key pillar of economic transformation and food security.
According to Mr. Osei Okrah, the nationwide distribution of inputs is designed to address major challenges confronting farmers, including limited access to production inputs, low productivity, climate-related challenges and poor adoption of improved agricultural practices.
He said the sector continues to grapple with ageing farms, pests and diseases, climate variability, limited access to quality planting materials, post-harvest losses, inadequate value addition and market constraints.
“Our response must therefore go beyond increasing production. We must develop competitive value chains that move from production at the farm level to processing, manufacturing, branding and access to higher-value markets,” he added.
Integrated Approach To Sector Growth
The CEO outlined TCDA’s integrated strategy, which combines regulation, farmer support, productivity enhancement, research and innovation, market development, traceability, value addition and investment promotion.
He emphasized that while inputs are essential, long-term transformation will require farmers to adopt recommended agronomic practices, climate-smart and sustainable production systems, and to work closely with extension officers.
“The Authority will continue to work with research institutions, development partners, farmer organisations, private-sector companies and local government structures to strengthen extension, research and technology transfer across the six strategic tree crops,” he said.
A central pillar of the Authority’s agenda, he noted, is to move Ghana away from exporting raw agricultural commodities.
“The TCDA is leading Ghana’s efforts to move from the export of raw agricultural commodities towards processing, manufacturing, branding and the development of higher-value products. This will create jobs, expand opportunities for women and young people, increase farmers’ incomes, and retain more value within the Ghanaian economy,” Mr. Osei Okrah stated.
He cited the commercial utilization of the cashew apple alongside raw cashew nuts as an example, adding that similar opportunities exist for oil palm, coconut, rubber, mango and shea through processing and product development.
The CEO also referenced the National Oil Palm Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable Forum held on August 12, 2026, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration and translate policy into practical action.
He warned of growing threats from climate change, pests and diseases, citing recent outbreaks of powdery mildew in cashew. TCDA, he said, will strengthen surveillance, early detection, research and farmer education with technical partners.
Another priority, he added, is data and traceability. The Authority is scaling up farmer registration, farm mapping and traceability systems to improve planning, transparency and accountability across the value chain.
Call To Farmers And Investors
Mr. Osei Okrah urged beneficiaries to use the distributed inputs responsibly and maintain proper farm records. He also called on traditional authorities, District Assemblies, farmer organizations, development partners and the private sector to support the national tree crops agenda.
“To our development partners and private-sector collaborators, we appreciate your continued confidence in Ghana’s tree crops sector and invite greater investment in research, production, processing, technology, logistics, finance and market development,” he said.
He concluded that the intervention is about more than inputs. “It is about investing in our farmers, strengthening Ghana’s tree crops value chains and laying the foundation for a more prosperous and sustainable agricultural economy.”
The Ashanti Region was selected for the national launch due to its significant contribution to Ghana’s agricultural economy and potential for tree crop development, the Authority stated.
