President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to significantly increase local processing of Ghana’s tree crops, stating that the country will no longer export raw agricultural produce while importing finished products at higher prices.

Speaking at the Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, President Mahama said his administration is targeting 50 to 60 per cent annual local processing of key crops such as cashew, shea, and rubber.

I want to travel and be able to buy cashews and see the produce of Ghana, not the produce of India or the produce of some third-party country. We will no longer export raw cashew, raw shea or unprocessed rubber while importing the same finished products at higher prices, he announced.

The President outlined plans to expand agro-industrial parks, introduce incentives for private sector processors and strengthen regulatory oversight through the Tree Crops Development Authority to support value addition in the sector.

He also highlighted the government’s commitment under the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development, describing oil palm as “red gold.”

According to him, the government will invest $500 million to develop 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations and create 250,000 direct jobs.

Our target is clear: 50 per cent to 60 per cent local processing annually, expansion of agro-industrial parks, incentives for private sector processes and stronger regulatory oversight through the Tree Crops Development Authority, he stated.

President Mahama said the measures form part of broader efforts to industrialise the agricultural sector, promote value addition and increase employment opportunities across the country.

Under the National Policy on Integrated Oil Farm Development, we call it the red gold, the government is committed to investing $500 million to develop 100,000 hectares of oil farm and create 250,000 direct jobs, he said.