President John Mahama on Tuesday, February 17, officially opened the maiden Tree Crop Investment Summit, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding Ghana’s export base and fully taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, President Mahama stressed that government policies must deliver real benefits to farmers and workers in the sector, not just documents and promises.

“Our farmers must see results, not paperwork,” he said.

The President stated that Ghana would no longer be satisfied with exporting raw cashew, raw shea and unprocessed rubber, only to import finished products at higher prices.

“We cannot continue to export raw materials and import finished goods at a premium. Value addition must happen here at home,” he said, adding that this approach is key to job creation and building a more resilient economy.

President Mahama described the tree crops sector as a central pillar of his Resetting Agenda, outlining five key focus areas: production, jobs, exports, value addition and inclusive growth.

He announced government’s commitment to creating about 250,000 direct jobs through the sector.

According to him, the tree crops industry has strong potential to reduce unemployment and empower rural communities, particularly women, who support a significant number of households linked to priority crops.

“Agriculture must be modern, it must be profitable, and it must be attractive to young people,” President Mahama said.

He urged both local and foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities in the sector, describing it as promising, transformative and critical to Ghana’s long-term economic growth.