President Mahama Targets 60% Local Processing of Ghana’s Tree Crops to Drive Value Addition
President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to scale up local processing of Ghana’s major tree crops, signalling a policy shift away from exporting raw agricultural produce while importing higher-priced finished goods.
Speaking at the Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, President Mahama said his administration is targeting between 50 and 60 per cent annual domestic processing of key commodities, including cashew, shea and rubber.
According to him, the continued export of raw produce undermines value creation and limits Ghana’s ability to fully benefit from its agricultural resources.
“I want to travel and be able to buy cashews and see the produce of Ghana, not the produce of India or some third-party country. We will no longer export raw cashew, raw shea or unprocessed rubber and then import the same finished products at much higher prices,” the President said.
He outlined plans to expand agro-industrial parks across the country, roll out targeted incentives to attract private sector processors, and strengthen oversight within the tree crop value chain through the Tree Crops Development Authority.
President Mahama also reiterated government’s commitment to oil palm development under the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development, describing the crop as “red gold” due to its strategic importance to industrial growth and job creation.
He disclosed that government intends to invest about US$500 million to develop 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations nationwide, a move expected to generate approximately 250,000 direct jobs.
“Our objective is clear: achieving 50 to 60 per cent local processing annually, expanding agro-industrial parks, providing incentives for private sector processors, and enforcing stronger regulation through the Tree Crops Development Authority,” he stated.
The President said the initiatives form part of a broader agenda to industrialise agriculture, deepen value addition and expand employment opportunities, particularly in rural communities.
