London: Dr Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), has urged United Kingdom investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Ghana's tree crops sector, citing government-backed initiatives aimed at boosting value addition and industrialisation.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Okrah made the call during a high-level panel discussion on the second day of the Ghana-UK Investment Summit 2026 in London, which brought together global agribusiness leaders, investors, diplomats, and government officials. The statement shared with GNA noted that Dr Okrah emphasized that 'Ghana is open for business' and presented the country's investment prospects in the six regulated tree crops under the Authority. He outlined measures being implemented to transform the sector from a raw commodity export base into a value-driven industrial economy.
Dr Okrah highlighted opportunities in the cashew industry, noting that beyond the export of nuts, products such as cashew apples could be processed into juice, beverages, and other commercial products, creating additional revenue streams for investors. He also drew attention to the Government's plan to establish 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations nationwide, supported by a proposed 500-million-dollar financing facility. This initiative was described as a major opportunity for investment in cultivation, processing, and downstream industries.
Regarding rubber, efforts are underway to increase production through the reclamation of degraded lands while promoting industrialisation through the establishment of processing factories, including facilities for the production of vehicle tyres. The statement noted that the CEO also highlighted opportunities within the shea value chain, indicating that value addition to shea nuts would enable Ghana to benefit from the projected 5.5-billion-dollar global shea market by 2033.
Dr Okrah outlined policy interventions introduced by the Authority, including directives backed by Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2471 to reserve a percentage of raw materials for local processors under the Government's Feed the Industry initiative. This measure intends to strengthen local manufacturing, increase value addition, and create sustainable employment opportunities. He called on investors to partner with Ghana, citing the country's stable business environment, supportive policy framework, and commitment to agricultural transformation.
The summit, held from June 1 to 2 on the theme, 'The Reset Agenda: Restoring Investor Confidence to Unlock Opportunities and Shared Prosperity,' was organised to showcase investment-ready projects across Ghana's priority sectors and strengthen economic cooperation between Ghana and the United Kingdom. It brought together investors, policymakers, business leaders, development partners, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora to explore opportunities for trade.