John Dramani Mahama’s announcement that Ghana will process at least 60 per cent of its major tree crops locally each year signals a bold and necessary shift in the country’s agricultural and industrial policy.
The President was speaking at the maiden Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition held in Accra on Tuesday. It was on the theme, “Sustainable Growth through Tree Crop Investment: Resetting and Building Ghana’s Green Economy.”
Again, President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghana to stop exporting raw minerals and instead invest in local processing to strengthen the economy.
Speaking at the Minerals Commission’s Local Content Summit in Takoradi yesterday, he called for refineries, bullion infrastructure, mineral-based industrial clusters, and downstream processing of bauxite, manganese, and lithium.
For decades, Ghana has remained largely dependent on the export of raw minerals and agricultural commodities: cashew, shea, rubber, coconut, and mango, while importing finished or semi-finished products at far higher prices.
This model has yielded limited value for farmers, constrained job creation, and exposed the economy to volatile global commodity prices.
The Ghanaian Times views the proposed pivot under the revised $200 million Tree Crops Diversification Project as an opportunity to correct this long-standing imbalance.
By focusing on value addition, agro-industrial parks, private-sector incentives and stronger regulation through the Tree Crops Development Authority, the government is acknowledging that true agricultural transformation lies not merely in increasing production, but in building complete value chains.
For us, the logic is compelling. Processing crops locally keeps more income within the country, creates skilled and semi-skilled jobs, stimulates manufacturing, and strengthens linkages between farmers and industry.
A tonne of processed cashew kernels, refined shea butter or finished rubber products generates significantly more revenue than the same volume of raw exports. More importantly, it creates opportunities for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises to participate meaningfully in global supply chains.
The timing of this initiative is equally critical. At a moment when Ghana seeks to stabilise its economy and diversify exports, tree crops represent a viable pathway to sustainable growth.
In our view, beyond cocoa, the country has underutilised potential in cashew, mango, coconut and oil palm. Properly harnessed, these crops can reduce overreliance on a narrow export base and provide a buffer against external shocks.
However, ambition must be matched with execution. Achieving 60 per cent local processing will require more than policy pronouncements. It demands reliable power supply, efficient transport infrastructure, access to affordable credit, and strong quality-control systems to meet international standards.
It also requires deliberate support for farmers through improved seedlings, extension services, and fair pricing mechanisms to ensure that increased processing does not translate into exploitation at the production end.
The summit’s theme, “Sustainable Growth through Tree Crop Investment: Resetting and Building Ghana’s Green Economy,” rightly links agriculture to climate resilience.
Tree crops play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, soil conservation and rural stability. If managed responsibly, expanded tree-crop production can align economic growth with environmental sustainability.
The call by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for traditional authorities to make land available responsibly underscores another key pillar: land governance. With traditional leaders holding stewardship over most of Ghana’s land, transparent and equitable land access will be central to attracting serious investors while protecting community interests.
Ultimately, this initiative must not become another well-intentioned policy that falters at implementation.
The private sector must respond with investment, development partners must align financing with local priorities, and regulatory bodies must ensure accountability and transparency.
If executed effectively, the 60 per cent processing target could mark a turning point; moving Ghana decisively from a supplier of raw materials to a competitive agro-industrial economy.
The opportunity is real. The responsibility to deliver is even greater.
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