The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has announced a nationwide directive requiring all nursery operators, service providers and input dealers within Ghana’s tree crops sector to register and obtain licences from the Authority effective Monday, June 1, 2026.
The directive, issued under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) and the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471), forms part of measures by the Authority to strengthen regulation, improve traceability and ensure quality standards across the country’s growing tree crops industry.
According to the public announcement, the directive applies to all actors engaged in the propagation, production support, input supply and sale of planting materials for TCDA-regulated crops, namely cashew, coconut, oil palm, mango, rubber and shea.
The Authority explained that Regulations 17 and 18 of L.I. 2471 mandate all actors within the tree crops value chain to register and obtain licences before operating. The move is expected to sanitize the sector, eliminate uncertified planting materials and promote the use of approved standards in nursery establishment and operations.
Under the new directive, nursery operators are required to:
- Submit applications for registration and licensing through TCDA zonal offices or the official TCDA website;
- Meet prescribed standards and guidelines for nursery establishment and operations;
- Allow site inspection and verification by the Authority; and
- Pay the approved registration and licensing fees.
Service providers and input dealers are also expected to register with the Authority and comply with all applicable licensing requirements.
The TCDA emphasized that failure to comply with the directive could result in sanctions, including the closure of non-compliant nurseries and confiscation of uncertified planting materials in accordance with existing laws and regulations governing the sector.
The initiative forms part of the Authority’s broader mandate to regulate and develop Ghana’s tree crops industry while ensuring sustainable production, quality assurance and value chain efficiency. Established under Act 1010, the TCDA is responsible for regulating the production, processing and trading of six priority tree crops — cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm.
In recent months, the Authority has intensified enforcement and regulatory measures within the sector, including the introduction of the Tree Crops Conveyance Certificate System aimed at improving traceability and monitoring commodity movement nationwide.
Stakeholders and prospective operators have therefore been encouraged to regularize their operations ahead of the June 2026 deadline to avoid sanctions and contribute to the development of a more structured and competitive tree crops industry in Ghana.
For further clarification and assistance, stakeholders may contact the TCDA office at East Legon-Adjiringanor, Accra, via telephone on 0303 981 790 / 0244 389 168 / 0243 946 145 or through email at info@tcda.gov.gh.
