The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has marked a major milestone in Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda with the graduation of its first cohort of 85 Compliance and Enforcement Officers at a ceremony held in Kumasi.
The passing-out parade represents a significant step in strengthening regulation and restoring order within Ghana’s fast-growing tree crops sector. The TCDA, established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019, is mandated to regulate and develop a sustainable environment for the production, processing, pricing, and marketing of selected tree crops.
To ensure strict compliance across the value chain, the newly trained officers underwent two weeks of intensive training focused on regulatory enforcement, standards compliance, and industry monitoring. The group is made up of 15 women and 70 men, reflecting a growing effort to promote inclusivity in agricultural regulation.
The officers will be deployed nationwide to enforce standards and regulations covering six priority crops cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm with the aim of boosting production, ensuring sustainability, and enhancing Ghana’s export earnings. They will also oversee the licensing and registration of industry players, a key requirement for sanitising the sector and improving traceability.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority, Dr Andy Okrah, described the initiative as a core component of the Authority’s 2026 strategic plan to intensify regulation while stimulating growth across the tree crops industry.
“This is about creating order, protecting farmers, and positioning our tree crops sector as a strong pillar of the national economy,” he noted.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, reaffirmed government’s full support for the TCDA’s work, stressing that diversification beyond cocoa is critical for building a resilient and profitable agricultural sector.
With the deployment of the new enforcement officers, the TCDA is expected to accelerate efforts to move Ghana beyond cocoa dependency and unlock the full potential of tree crops as a driver of jobs, sustainability, and export growth.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com
