President John Dramani Mahama and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, have been honoured by the Ghana Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) for their outstanding contributions to the country’s tree crops sector.
They were honoured alongside 18 other distinguished personalities, 11 tree crop companies and one research institution at the Tree Crop Excellence Awards in Accra last Friday.
The ceremony recognised contributions to Ghana’s tree crops sector, and highlighted efforts to strengthen value chains, formalise regulation and promote agro-industrial development.
President Mahama was recognised as the overall Most Outstanding Tree Crops Icon, Ambassador and Promoter, while Otumfuo Osei Tutu received recognition as the overall Most Outstanding Innovative Tree Crop Farmer and Processor.
Awards
The TCDA organised the awards to celebrate excellence across the shea, cashew, coconut, oil palm, mango and rubber value chains, and to acknowledge policymakers and institutional leaders who shaped and implemented the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010).
The awards also covered artisanal and industrial processing, export performance, nursery operations, aggregation and trading.
It brought together policymakers, traditional authorities, agribusiness operators, farmer organisations, researchers and development partners from across the country.
The authority highlighted its regulatory mandate and progress in licensing sector actors, streamlining export procedures and introducing levy systems to finance sector development.
The event reinforced collaboration among public institutions, private investors and farming communities within the regulated tree crops space, and reflected efforts to consolidate reforms, promote standards, compliance and value addition in the industry.
Recognitions
Besides the President and the Asantehene, six other personalities, two tree crop companies and one institution were given honorary awards.
A former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Ahwoi, was recognised as the initiator and promoter of the Ghana TCDA concept.
Another former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, received recognition as the implementer and organiser of the authority’s concept.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Mponua, Seth Osei Akoto, was honoured for championing the promulgation of the TCDA Act 1010, while the MP for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, received recognition for championing and promulgating the relevant Act as Ranking Member of the Food and Ariculture Committee in Parliament.
A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the authority, William Quaittoo, was recognised as the first CEO who implemented Act 1010 and Legislative Instrument 2471.
The Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, received recognition as the most outstanding enterprising and promising tree crop farmer in the cashew category.
Twifo Oil Palm Processing Company Limited was honoured as the most outstanding levy-paying tree crops organisation, while Solidaridad, an international civil society organisation, was recognised as an outstanding tree crops development partner.
CSIR–Oil Palm Research Institute was recognised as an outstanding tree crops research institution.
Youth participation and female leadership formed part of the recognition framework, reflecting emphasis on inclusivity and generational renewal within the sector.
Government focus
Speaking at the ceremony, the Special Aide to the President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, said the government’s renewed focus on agriculture and agribusiness formed a central pillar of the country’s economic reset agenda to drive job creation, industrial development and market expansion.
She said President Mahama, who opened the maiden three-pronged sector summit earlier, had outlined a clear vision for the industry, shaped by experiences that influenced his policy direction.
Mrs Mogtari said the government planned to invest about $200 million in electrification and core sector projects to improve production, strengthen market access and support value addition across the agricultural value chain.
New ministry, industrial framework
She said the recalibration of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry reflected the government’s intention to strengthen coordination between trade and agricultural policies and accelerate industrialisation.
Mrs Mogtari said investors had acknowledged the improved business environment in the country, citing currency stability, fiscal discipline and policy consistency as factors supporting sector growth.
She also referred to the signing into law of the 24-hour Authority Bill, stating that the legislation was expected to support continuous industrial operations, expand production and strengthen export capacity.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh