Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Chairman of Parliament’s Agric and Cocoa Affairs Committee, has assured investors in Ghana’s tree crop sector that the country’s legal and regulatory framework remains flexible and responsive to protecting their investments.
He said government was committed to creating a secure and predictable investment climate for plantation developers, processors, smallholder farmers and foreign partners seeking to expand operations in the sector.
“Be assured that as we police the process, as we go with management at every step, and as we engage stakeholders and businesses along the way, we will be amenable to reorient our legal regulations and platforms for laws in this country regarding your investment,” he said.
Dr Jasaw, who is also the Member of Parliament for Wa East, gave the assurance at an investment forum during the 2026 Ghana Tree Crops Summit and Exhibition in Accra.
He emphasised that protecting the interests of smallholder farmers, local enterprises and foreign investors was central to government’s broader strategy of growing the tree crop industry through plantation expansion and increased local value addition.
The forum also highlighted the role of state institutions in supporting Ghana’s green economy agenda.
In a statement read on her behalf, Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, said the Service was making meaningful contributions to the development of the tree crop sector.
She disclosed that the Service currently manages 688.5 acres of oil palm plantation and 10 acres of mango farms across various prison establishments nationwide.
“These plantations contribute to internal food security, income generation and national efforts at expanding tree crop acreage,” she noted.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie explained that the Service had prioritised mechanised agriculture and industrialisation as part of efforts to modernise its operations.
She revealed that steps were being taken to secure land banks at strategic locations across the country to support large-scale farming initiatives.
According to her, dedicated departments had been established within the Service to take advantage of government interventions and policy incentives under the 24-hour economy programme.
With its extensive land resources across the country, she said the Service could significantly boost Ghana’s green economy ambitions if supported with adequate investment, mechanisation, improved planting materials and modern farm management systems.
The forum also drew attention to gender inclusion within the tree crop value chain.
Dr Vida Korang, Senior Lecturer at the Catholic University of Ghana, called for greater recognition of the critical role women play in the sector.
She observed that women are often at the forefront as primary cultivators, farm labourers, processors and aggregators, yet their contributions remain undervalued.
“We are the traders, exporters and micro-entrepreneurs, and the custodians of indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices,” she said.
Dr Korang urged policymakers and investors to design interventions that deliberately empower women across the tree crop value chain, arguing that inclusive participation would strengthen productivity, sustainability and long-term sector growth.
Participants at the forum agreed that aligning legal safeguards, institutional support and inclusive policies would be crucial to attracting sustainable investment and accelerating Ghana’s tree crop transformation agenda.
