Hundreds of policymakers, agribusiness leaders, investors, and development partners are gathering in Accra for the first-ever Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition, organised by the Tree Crops Development Authority. For years, meetings and discussions on Ghana’s tree crops sector have produced little more than promises, debates, and hours of talk. This summit carries the heavy expectation of change: will it break the cycle and pave the way for a new cash crop, or will it become yet another talk shop, full of words, but short on action?
From February 17 to 28, 2026, the summit will bring together experts for intensive daily sessions of dialogues, discussions, and strategic exchanges. For this historic gathering to truly make a difference, the focus should be on expanding Ghana’s tree crops sector beyond cocoa, tapping into the economic potential of oil palm, coconut, and shea. Attention must be given to creating new income streams, attracting young farmers, and building value chains that turn ideas into action, addressing the gaps left by past gatherings that often produced discussion but little tangible progress.
Cocoa has long been Ghana’s main cash crop, generating foreign exchange, supporting rural livelihoods, and underpinning national development. Ghana’s position as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer has been a source of economic strength and pride. Yet the sector faces serious challenges: production volumes have fluctuated due to climate variability, disease, and declining productivity; illegal mining is encroaching on fertile lands; and the average cocoa farmer is between 50 and 64 years old, with limited youth participation.
These challenges raise a critical question: can Ghana cultivate a second, or even third “cocoa” through other high-potential tree crops, such as oil palm, coconut, and shea? Global demand for palm oil continues to rise, and Africa is increasingly seen as the next growth frontier. Yet Ghana is not among the top producers. According to the World Integrated Trade Solutions, Côte d’Ivoire ranks in the top 10, generating $102.8 million in crude palm oil exports in 2024. This gap highlights both a challenge and a clear opportunity for Ghana.
Coconut offers promising avenues in value-added processing for food, cosmetics, and health products, while shea remains underdeveloped despite strong global demand. The key issue is strategic execution: will Ghana invest in processing, branding, and integrated value chains, or continue exporting raw commodities? Can finance, improved seedlings, irrigation, and mechanisation attract young entrepreneurs and make these crops profitable alternatives to destructive land uses?
The summit represents more than discussions; it is a test of action. Its success will be measured by tangible outcomes: committed investments, concrete production and processing objectives, initiatives that empower young people, and policies that safeguard agricultural lands while increasing productivity.
Ghana does not lack resources, potential, or market access. What it has often lacked is sustained implementation. If the summit catalyses investment, strengthens value addition, and makes tree crops commercially attractive, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in agricultural transformation, with coconut, oil palm, or shea emerging as strategic complements to cocoa.
If action does not follow words, this summit risks joining the long list of well-intentioned conversations. Ghana’s future in tree crops hangs in the balance: will it build new pillars or continue relying on one ageing backbone?
