The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, as part of his working visit to the Savannah region, paid a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, at Damongo.
The visit provided an opportunity for the CEO to formally introduce himself and the mandate of the Tree Crops Development Authority, which is responsible for regulating and developing of six selected tree crops: cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango, and shea. With emphasis on the shea value chain, which serves as a vital source of livelihood for thousands of people especially women across the five northern regions of Ghana.
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between TCDA and the Gonja Kingdom to advance the sustainable development of the shea industry. Key issues highlighted included intensifying community education on the dangers of indiscriminate felling of shea trees, combating bushfires that threaten shea production and sustainability, and promoting responsible stewardship of the valuable natural resource. The CEO emphasized that the destruction of shea trees constitutes an offence under TCDA Legislative Instrument (L.I. 2471).
Dr. Okrah also assured the Yagbonwura of the Authority’s commitment to establishing a regional presence to support the growth and effective regulation of tree crop activities in the Savannah Region. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting value addition within the shea industry to create jobs, increase incomes, and stimulate economic growth across Northern Ghana and the country at large.
As part of these efforts, the CEO highlighted the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TCDA and Golden Forest Limited, aimed at enhancing research, investment, and overall development within Ghana’s shea sector.
Welcoming the TCDA delegation, His Royal Majesty Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I expressed his appreciation for the visit and assured Dr. Okrah of his full support in advancing the development of the shea industry. He further urged the Authority to expedite the establishment of a TCDA zonal office in the Savannah Region to strengthen coordination and service delivery.
The visit forms part of TCDA’s broader stakeholder engagement strategy aimed at enhancing production, regulation enforcement and development of tree crops across the country, while increasing public awareness of the Authority’s mandate, governing Acts, and Legislative Instruments within the tree crops sector.
