President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday inaugurated the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) with a mandate to improve the development of tree crops across the country for substantial benefits.
The President explained that government’s strategy was to promote the development of tree crops other than cocoa with equal or even higher economic potential.
“The Tree Crops Development Authority, which is the legal and institutional outcome of PERD, will lead the agenda for the diversification of Ghana’s agriculture by developing the tree crops sector,” he indicated.
President Akufo-Addo said, “To kick-start the implementation of PERD, seven tree crops, namely mango, cashew, shea, rubber, cocoa, oil palm and coffee have been identified and selected for promotion under the programme, six of which are directly under the supervision of the Authority. I am hopeful that sooner than later, coffee will also be brought under the direct supervision of the Authority.”
Headquartered in Kumasi, the TCDA will operate like COCOBOD and put in place policies and programmes to guide research, production, pricing and marketing of the six tree crops.
He said if the economic potential of the six selected tree crops are properly harnessed, Ghana can soon increase exponentially her agricultural export earnings.
So far, 220,257 farmers have enrolled onto the PERD programme, whilst 235,850 hectares of land have been cultivated, with a total of thirty million seedlings of the various crops produced and to be distributed to farmers and interested persons.
“At full implementation, the PERD programme will link agriculture to industry through the provision of a solid raw material base for industrialisation, develop our rural economies, and assist in the structural transformation of the national economy. All these will propel growth, create employment, particularly for the youth, and the creation of wealth,” the President added.
The 29-member board of directors of the Authority is chaired by Stephen Sekyere-Abankwa, with members being Chief Executive William Quaitoo and his two deputies, Yaw Osei Oteng in charge of Finance & Administration, and Foster Boateng in charge of Operations.
President Akufo-Addo assured the members of the Authority of government’s efforts to secure funding for the upgrading of the relevant research institutions to assist in the effective development of the sector.
“The over-arching vision of a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ is neither rhetoric nor gimmickry. We are determined, through action, to achieve this vision, and today’s programme is a clear indication of our total commitment. With God on our side, we shall surely succeed,” he added.