The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has announced an ambitious national plan to develop 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations as part of efforts to revitalise the industry and boost domestic production.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Dr. Okrah revealed that the initiative forms a key component of a comprehensive national oil palm policy crafted in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. The programme, scheduled to run from 2030 to 2036, is expected to be a “game changer” for Ghana’s tree crops 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 also disclosed that the World Bank is currently undertaking a scoping mission to support the project. He explained that expanding local production will ensure processors and refineries have a reliable and increased supply of raw materials.

As part of preparations, the government is identifying suitable lands for cultivation, with a flagship oil palm development project planned for the Volta Region.

“The soil there is fertile for oil palm. We only need to create the irrigation,” he noted.

According to the TCDA, the large-scale expansion is expected to significantly reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported palm oil and strengthen the country’s position in the global oil palm market.