The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, says Ghana is rolling out an ambitious plan to develop 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations to strengthen the industry and boost national production.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Dr. Okrah disclosed that the initiative is part of a comprehensive national oil palm policy developed in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
He said the programme, expected to run between 2030 and 2036, has the potential to be a “game changer” for Ghana’s tree crop sector.
“We now have a comprehensive integrated national policy targeting 100,000 hectares of oil palm and creating over 250,000 jobs for Ghanaians,” he stated.
Dr. Okrah added that the World Bank is already conducting a scoping mission to support the project. He noted that expanding local production will ensure processors and refineries have a steady and increased supply of raw materials.
He further revealed that the government is identifying suitable lands for cultivation, with a flagship project planned for the Volta Region.
“The soil there is fertile for oil palm. We only need to create the irrigation,” he said.
The TCDA believes the expansion will significantly reduce Ghana’s import dependence and position the country as a major player in the global oil palm industry.
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