President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious plan to generate US$12 billion annually from Ghana’s tree crop production and its associated agricultural value chains, positioning the sector as a central pillar of the country’s economic transformation agenda.
Speaking at the maiden Ghana Tree Crop Summit 2026 and Exhibition, organised under the auspices of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) on the theme: “Sustainable Growth through Tree Crop Investment: Resetting and Building Ghana’s Green Economy,” President Mahama said the projection will be driven by six priority cash crops – rubber, coconut, mango, oil palm, cashew and shea.
According to the President, the $12 billion target translates into roughly $2 billion in annual export earnings per crop.
“Our ambition remains $12 billion in annual exports, which will translate into two billion dollars per crop. From coconut to cashew to rubber, we expect each of these crops to contribute significantly. It is ambitious, I agree, yet it is achievable,” he stated.
Value Addition and Market Expansion
President Mahama emphasised that the strategy goes beyond primary production, focusing instead on value addition, industrial processing and export diversification.
He noted that expanding the tree crop sector will enable Ghana to deepen access to African, Middle Eastern and Asian markets while reducing foreign exchange vulnerabilities.
Linking the initiative to his government’s broader “reset agenda,” the President said the programme is anchored on production, job creation, exports, value addition and inclusive development.
“Let the Ghana Tree Crop Summit 2026 mark a turning point at which Ghana decisively shifts from raw crop exports to industrial processing, from vulnerability to resilience and from promise to performance,” he declared.
He further indicated that government intends to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to broaden Ghana’s export base.
Condolences Over Burkina Faso Attack
Before outlining the economic agenda, President Mahama paid tribute to Ghanaian traders killed in a militant attack in Burkina Faso.
The President disclosed that the traders were ambushed while conducting business in a village near the volatile Sahel region.
“Recently, some traders from Ghana travelled to Burkina Faso to buy tomatoes. They were attacked by armed insurgents. Unfortunately, we lost a number of our compatriots, though a few survived,” he said.
He assured the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces have been activated to medically evacuate the injured back to Ghana for continued treatment.
“On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, we express our condolences to the families of those who were killed or injured,” he added.
Asantehene Raises Alarm Over Environmental Threats
In a speech read on his behalf, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, raised concerns about the deteriorating state of Ghana’s cocoa industry, citing climate change, water pollution and illegal mining as major threats undermining the sector.
The occupant of the Golden Stool warned that Ghana faces a troubling contradiction — grappling with severe environmental degradation driven largely by illegal mining, while simultaneously seeking to expand and benefit from tree crop production.
He stressed that the destructive impact of illegal mining is eroding the very ecological foundation required to sustain cocoa and other tree crops.
Otumfuo urged President John Dramani Mahama to intensify the fight against illegal mining, calling for decisive and sustained action to safeguard the country’s lands and water bodies.
He described the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) as a strategic vehicle for economic transformation, noting that the sector presents significant investment opportunities.
The Asantehene further disclosed that he has personally invested in the tree crop value chain, underscoring his confidence in its long-term potential to reshape Ghana’s economic narrative.
Agriculture Ministry Signals Sector Reform
Also addressing the summit, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said government has repositioned the TCDA into a more modern, business-oriented regulatory body with strong investment potential.
He maintained that Ghana is on the path of an agricultural revolution that promises significant employment and industrialisation benefits.
TCDA Positions Sector for Investment
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority, Dr. Andy Osei Okran, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s tree crop sector into a vibrant and sustainable industry.
He said the TCDA is pursuing strategic partnerships, policy reforms and sector-wide coordination to unlock the full potential of the cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm value chains.
“Our goal is to build a resilient and competitive tree crop industry that supports livelihoods, drives economic growth and contributes meaningfully to national development,” he stated.
Dr. Osei Okran invited investors, processors, exporters, aggregators and development partners to capitalise on emerging opportunities within the sector.
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The post Ghana Targets $12 Billion from Tree Crop Exports appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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