The Coconut Federation-Ghana (COCOFEG) has lauded President John Dramani Mahama, for the distribution of three million elite coconut seedlings under the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA).
According to the COCOFEG, the flagship programme financed by Ghana Exim Bank, and jointly implemented with support from the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), represents a strategic investment in Ghana’s rural economy, job creation, youth and women empowerment, and export diversification.
President of COCOFEG, Patrick Ndabiah, stressed the commitment of the Federation in ensuring every region and farmer benefits.
“As a Federation, we are mobilising farmers and building systems that will make Ghana a centre of excellence for coconut in Africa. We are grateful to President Mahama for this bold and practical intervention,” he said.
President of FAGE, Davies Narh Korboe, noted, “This is not just about coconuts, it’s about restoring dignity to our rural farmers, creating jobs for the youth, and opening up Ghana to export-led development. Coconut is the new cocoa. Let’s nurture it right.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM), Mr. Sylvester Mensah, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to financing growth in non-traditional exports.
“We are investing in an ecosystem that guarantees jobs, increases export earnings, and drives sustainable industrial growth. Coconut is an economic tree and we are ensuring that every seedling counts towards Ghana’s industrial transformation,” he stated.
The initiative is expected to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, spanning nursery operations, farm work, transport, processing, marketing, aggregation, and export logistics.
For many beneficiaries, this project is a miracle in motion. In towns and villages, seedlings are being planted with dreams; dreams of independence, of dignity, and of a better tomorrow.
With new seedlings, farmers can expect first harvests as little as three years, with mature trees producing over 60 years. This is a lifelong investment for families and communities.
Ghana’s coconut sector already contributes more than $12 million in export value annually, but the global demand for coconut and its derivatives (water, oil, coir, husk, milk, and cosmetics) suggests multi-billion-dollar opportunities.
A Daily Guide Report