The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has announced that 85 compliance and enforcement officers have been trained to strengthen regulation in Ghana’s tree crop sector.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Okrah explained that the officers will ensure that all players in the sector are properly registered and licensed before engaging in production or export activities.
“Before anyone becomes part of this industry, they need to be registered and licensed by the TCDA,” he said. “We have observed that some people are operating without paying taxes or levies, and today we are ensuring that the system is regulated properly.”
He stressed the importance of quality control in exports.
“The quality of these products going outside the country is very important to us. That is why we need to register operators and issue licences. For example, to transport coconuts from the source to the exit point, you need a conveyance certificate,” Dr. Okrah said.
The newly trained task force will work closely with Customs, Immigration, the Police, National Security, District Assemblies, and other state institutions to enforce standards and bring order to the sector.
“The 85 compliance officers will not intimidate people,” Dr. Okrah emphasized. “Their role is to ensure that anyone exporting crops has the necessary documents, has paid their taxes, and contributed the development levy so the country benefits as much as the exporter.”
The training for the officers covered a wide range of topics, including:
- Physical drills and operational management
- Basic agronomy of six selected tree crops
- TCDA legal and regulatory frameworks
- Compliance monitoring and leadership
- Intelligence gathering and public order management
- Media engagement, stakeholder relations, and professional ethics
- Customer service, financial and auditing management
- TCDA conveyance certification system and field practicals
Dr. Okrah also noted the government’s planned support for farmers.
“The government is coming to give free cashew seedlings worth over 12 million cedis this year. All this will come from the levies paid by exporters, so it’s important that people comply.”
He added that the TCDA is seeking local investors to expand operations in the sector. “We already have some investors in the country, but we need to grow. The upcoming investment summit will provide opportunities for people to meet investors and explore business partnerships,” he said.
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