Regulation for Responsible Production of Tree Crops is Validated in Ghana

Governance on the responsible production of Ghana’s main tree crops is a step closer to becoming law, as draft legislation has been validated by the Tree Crops Development Authority in Ghana. The legislation provides detailed technical and financial regulations to steer the transition to responsible production of six tree crops: oil palm, coconut, mango, shea, rubber and cashew. 

The Tree Crops Development Authority partnered with the Crops Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, International Finance Consortium (IFC), Proforest and ComCashew (Competitive Cashew Initiative) to bring key stakeholders together to validate the draft regulation in two workshops.

• 16th of December 2021 in Accra for stakeholder in the southern half of Ghana and covers the Eastern, Oti, Volta, Central and Western regions 

• 20th December 2021 in Kumasi for stakeholders from Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Bono East, Western North, North East, Northern, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West regions. 

These workshops are part of a full participatory process designed to engage all stakeholders in the supply chain to input into the draft regulation. In August 2021 representatives from the six commodities regulated by the Tree Crops Development Authority met to review relevant regulations locally and internationally, to identify best practice to guide the sustainable development of the tree crops sub-sector in Ghana. 

Proforest is providing financial and technical support, as well as facilitation expertise, with funding from its Production Landscape Programme (PLP) and the Tropical Forest Alliance Africa Palm Oil Initiative.