The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has welcomed a delegation from the Oxford Economic Policy Network (EPN), accompanied by representatives from the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, for a strategic engagement on Ghana’s tree crops sector.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Dr. Osei Okrah to present TCDA’s mandate, ongoing interventions, and the vast investment opportunities across the tree crops value chain.
Discussions were centred on the cashew sector and strategic initiatives to increase value addition, particularly through the commercial utilisation of the cashew apple, which remains largely underutilised despite its significant economic potential.
The CEO underscored the importance of value addition across the tree crop value chains, noting that it aligns with the Government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation (AET) Agenda to drive industrialisation, create jobs, and boost exports.
The engagement also explored opportunities within the shea sector, with a focus on moving beyond the export of raw shea products to increased local processing and value addition.On the rubber sector, Dr. Osei Okrah outlined the government’s vision to significantly expand production by 2030 through the reclamation of degraded lands, distribution of quality seedlings, and capacity building for value chain actors.
He said the measures are aimed at strengthening Ghana’s position on the global rubber market.
The delegation commended TCDA’s proactive regulatory interventions, including the registration and licensing of value chain actors, minimum producer pricing mechanisms, and enforcement measures aimed at enhancing transparency and the overall competitiveness of Ghana’s tree crops sector.
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