Ghana loses 8,900 hectares of forest reserves to illegal mining
Ghana has lost approximately 8,900 hectares of its forest reserves to illegal mining, with government intensifying efforts to tackle the growing destruction of the country’s forest and water resources.
The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has been tasked with expanding oil palm production in Ghana, with the government aiming to develop 100,000 new hectares by 2026. This initiative seeks to bolster local palm oil production, decrease dependence on imported edible oils, and establish Ghana as a competitive force in the global palm oil market.
At a recent multi-stakeholder roundtable, TCDA CEO Dr. Andy Osei Okrah emphasized the importance of pursuing expansion in an environmentally friendly and productive manner, while creating sustainable jobs. He stressed that efforts would focus on developing suitable production zones, rehabilitating outdated farms, and closing yield gaps on existing plantations, rather than expanding through deforestation.
Minister of Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku joined the roundtable, advocating for a collaborative approach among all stakeholders to bolster Ghana's oil palm sector. He highlighted the necessity for the government, producers, processors, and other industry players to work together in addressing challenges and bolstering the conditions required to elevate domestic palm oil production.
Ghana aims to reduce reliance on imported edible oils and attain greater self-sufficiency in palm oil production. Dr. Okrah explained that the TCDA will transform the government's vision for palm oil self-sufficiency into an actionable plan, with the authority responsible for licensing, production planning, and industry data management.
The TCDA, created under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act of 2019 (Act 1010), will serve as the central institution for registration, licensing, production planning, industry data management, traceability, and quality assurance across the oil palm value chain. This expanded role aims to enhance sector coordination, provide better data, and enforce regulations to encourage investment and sustainable production.
The planned expansion is being undertaken as part of Ghana's broader effort to increase domestic agricultural output and strengthen value addition within the palm oil industry.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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