Regulating Tree Crops for Responsible Production in Ghana

The Ghana Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) is developing regulations to govern the production, processing and trading of six major tree crops in a sustainable manner. Key stakeholders representing oil palm, coconut, mango, shea, rubber and cashew crops took part in a two-day workshop in Prampram, Greater Accra Region, to provide input into legislation needed for sustainable and responsible production of these commodities.

The workshop was organised by the TCDA in consultation with the Crops Directorate of the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture with financial, technical and facilitation support by Proforest. The group established Technical Committees to identify and conduct a comprehensive review of relevant regulations and best practices, locally and internationally, to guide the sustainable development of the tree crops sub-sector in Ghana.

The meeting was opened by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority, William Quaitoo. Statements were also made by representatives from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is providing technical assistance, and Proforest, which is supporting this process with funding from its Production Landscape Programme (PLP), the Tropical Forest Alliance Africa Palm Oil Initiative and the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi). 

“The ambition of the Tree Crop Development Authority aligns with our mission to support the transition to agricultural commodity production and sourcing that delivers positive social and environmental outcomes for people and the planet,” said Afua Prempeh, Senior Project Manager at Proforest.

Stakeholders were also involved in providing input to the TCDA for subsidiary legislation for the performance of its statutory functions.