The Government has reiterated its commitment to transforming Ghana’s oil palm industry, with plans to support the establishment of 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations as part of efforts to boost domestic production, create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported palm oil.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, made this known at the National Oil Palm Multi-stakeholder Roundtable Forum in Accra on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
He mentioned that the expansion programme would form part of a broader strategy to move the industry from policy commitments to measurable results.
The event, held under the theme “From Policy to Practice: The Role of TCDA in Resetting Ghana’s Oil Palm Industry,” brought together government officials, the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), farmers, processors, investors, research institutions, development partners, traditional authorities and other actors across the oil palm value chain.
Mr Opoku disclosed that Ghana had no shortage of policies and studies on agriculture, but emphasized that the priority should now be implementation, coordination and accountability.
“Policy acquires value only when it changes lives,” the Minister said, adding that the forum should produce clear commitments on responsibilities, timelines, resources and measurable targets.
He said, oil palm remains a strategic crop because of its links to both agriculture and industry. The crop supports farmers, nursery operators, transporters, processors, traders and manufacturers, while also providing opportunities for women and young people.
Beyond edible oil, palm products serve as raw materials for industries including soap and cosmetics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, confectionery, animal feed and bioenergy.
But, Ghana continues to face a significant gap between domestic palm oil production and national demand, resulting in substantial imports.
He described the deficit as more than a supply problem, stressing it represents lost employment opportunities, underutilised processing capacity, reduced farmer incomes and foreign exchange that could otherwise remain in the domestic economy.
He further added, the situation, also creates opportunities for smuggling and unfair competition, which undermine legitimate businesses and reduce government revenue.
Mr Opoku identified the Tree Crops Development Authority, established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), as the institutional anchor for the oil palm transformation agenda.
TCDA is expected to strengthen registration and licensing, production planning, industry data collection, traceability, quality assurance and coordination among stakeholders.
He was of the view that the formalisation should not be viewed by businesses as an administrative burden, but as a foundation for credibility, investor confidence, traceability and access to premium markets.
He pointed out that, government would support TCDA in enforcing industry standards fairly and consistently to protect compliant businesses, consumers and the reputation of Ghanaian palm oil.
He stressed that the proposed 100,000-hectare expansion should not be measured simply by acreage.
He stated that it would depend on the quality of planting materials, farm productivity, farmer incomes, inclusion of smallholders, women and young people, secure land arrangements, environmental protection, access to finance, processing efficiency and stronger market linkages.
He appealed for increased access to high-yielding, climate-resilient and disease-tolerant planting materials, backed by research, certified nurseries, extension services and improved farm management.
By Benjamin Aidoo
