The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has called on investors to partner with Ghana, citing the country’s “favourable business environment”, policy stability, and strong commitment to agricultural transformation as the government seeks to unlock new investment flows into the tree crops sector.
Addressing global agribusiness leaders, investors, diplomats, and government officials at the Ghana–UK Investment Summit 2026 in London, Okrah outlined major investment opportunities across Ghana’s regulated tree crop industry, highlighting plans to drive industrialization, value addition, and export growth.
A key focus of the presentation was the government’s ambitious programme to expand the oil palm industry through the development of 100,000 hectares of new plantations nationwide, supported by a proposed $500 million financing facility aimed at increasing production and strengthening downstream processing.
The TCDA CEO also drew attention to opportunities within the shea industry, noting efforts to deepen value addition and position Ghana to capture a larger share of the projected $5.5 billion global shea market by 2033.
He said the government’s strategy is centred on moving beyond raw commodity exports toward “value addition” and industrial transformation, creating opportunities across the entire tree crops value chain.
Using the cashew industry as an example, Okrah highlighted the commercial potential of by-products such as cashew apples, which can be processed into juice, beverages and other consumer products, thereby increasing revenue streams and reducing waste.
On rubber, he outlined initiatives to expand production through the reclamation of degraded lands while supporting industrial development through investments in local processing facilities, including factories capable of producing vehicle tyres and other rubber-based products.
Okrah further highlighted policy measures introduced by the Authority to support domestic manufacturing, including directives backed by Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2471 that reserve 50 percent of raw materials for local processors under the government’s Feed the Industry initiative.
According to him, the intervention is aimed at “strengthening local industries”, boosting value addition and creating sustainable employment opportunities within the sector.
During the panel discussion, the TCDA CEO introduced participants to the Authority’s regulatory mandate and the six tree crops under its supervision, positioning the sector as a key driver of Ghana’s agricultural modernization agenda.
He noted that under the Resetting Agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana is emerging as a platform for agricultural transformation, with government policies focused on stimulating growth, creating jobs and attracting long-term investment into strategic sectors of the economy.
