Government says its integrated oil palm development programme is expected to create more than 250,000 direct and indirect jobs while positioning Ghana as a regional hub for palm oil production and exports.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, said government was advancing plans to establish sustainability-compliant oil palm land banks to attract private investment.
He said more than 270,000 hectares of land had been reviewed in the Western Region, with approximately 10,780 hectares already identified as suitable for sustainable oil palm cultivation.
The Minister said the Western Region alone could provide about 30,000 hectares during the first phase, while the nationwide land bank could eventually exceed 100,000 hectares.
He said the initiative would strengthen smallholder participation, increase domestic crude palm oil production, reduce imports and support export growth.
Dr Forson announced that government was finalising a US$500 million financing agreement with the World Bank to support private sector investment in large-scale commercial oil palm plantations.
The agreement is expected to be concluded and presented to Parliament before the end of 2026.
