The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has affirmed that the future of Ghana’s job creation and economic stability lies within the operations of the Tree Crop Development Authority.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Driving Growth in Ghana’s Tree Crop Sector, Dr. Okrah elaborated on the mandate of the TCDA, explaining that the Authority was established by law to regulate, develop, and promote the production and marketing of six selected strategic crops.
These crops, he said, are referred to as CCORMS, “Cashew, Coconut, Oil Palm, Rubber, Mango, and Shea”.
According to him, TCDA’s mandate is to ensure the proper regulation and development of these crops so that the country can fully harness their economic potential.
He emphasized that if Ghana diversifies its agricultural focus and does not rely solely on cocoa but instead gives due recognition to these six tree crops, it will mark a major step toward economic recovery and resilience.
Dr. Okrah highlighted the importance of the tree crop sector in addressing food security challenges.
He particularly noted that investment in coconut alone has the potential to change the fortunes of the nation, while describing oil palm as the country’s “red gold.”
He further stressed that the rubber and mango industries possess enormous potential to transform Ghana’s economy if adequately developed and supported.
Touching on the global significance of shea, Dr. Okrah stated that the crop plays a vital role in international production and trade, with shea trees found abundantly across the country.
He reiterated that the development of the tree crop sector will lead to massive job creation, explaining that the various stages of processing, from cultivation to the final product, will employ thousands of Ghanaians across different levels of the value chain.
Dr. Okrah projected that with adequate investment, each of the six tree crops could generate an average of $2 billion annually, adding that such revenue would provide a significant boost to Ghana’s economy.
He urged investors to channel more resources into the tree crop sector to help the Authority realize its vision of transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape, creating sustainable jobs, and cushioning the national economy against global economic shocks.
