In a bold move to transform Ghana’s agricultural landscape and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports, President John Dramani Mahama has launched the Feed Ghana Programme — a flagship initiative aimed at revitalising the sector, with a strategic focus on the tree crops sub-sector, particularly the oil palm industry.

Speaking at the official launch in Techiman, Bono East Region, President Mahama emphasised the urgency of boosting local production and maximizing Ghana’s potential in the global oil palm market, which is projected to hit $65 billion by 2027.

“Ghana must take its rightful place in the global oil palm market. With local demand at 450,000 metric tonnes and current production at only 300,000 metric tonnes, we face a shortfall of 150,000 metric tonnes. We must close this gap and seize the opportunity to export,” President Mahama stated.

The Feed Ghana Programme is designed as an umbrella framework to guide all agricultural initiatives under his administration. It prioritizes modernized farming techniques, infrastructure development, and the creation of agro-industrial zones across the country.

As part of the intervention, President Mahama announced the introduction of a National Palm Oil Industry Policy, which will offer targeted incentives across the value chain — from cultivation to processing and export.

“We call it our ‘brown gold’—palm oil. Through this policy, we will ensure strategic incentives to support farmers, processors, and exporters. Our goal is to turn palm oil into a key economic pillar, just like cocoa once was,” he said.

President Mahama also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), which was established in 2019 by Act 1010 of Parliament. The TCDA is mandated to regulate and sustainably develop six strategic crops: oil palm, cashew, mango, coconut, shea, and rubber.

“The TCDA will be given the full support it needs to scale up the development of all six tree crops. But special emphasis will be placed on oil palm due to its high demand, both locally and internationally,” he added.

Ghana’s current food import bill exceeds $2 billion annually. Agro-industries operate far below capacity, and although food inflation has dropped from a peak of 54% in 2022 to 23%, the president noted that the situation still demands urgent attention.

“This is not the time for half-measures. Agriculture must not be treated as a development footnote. It is the engine of national transformation, and we must act like it,” President Mahama urged.

The Feed Ghana Programme, through its Tree Crop Development – Feed the Industry sub-initiative, aims to reposition agriculture as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and food security in Ghana.

“It’s time for a collective effort. With this programme, we are not only feeding the people — we are feeding the industries, strengthening our economy, and reclaiming our place in the global agricultural value chain,” President Mahama concluded.

The initiative marks a significant policy shift towards agro-industrialization, with the oil palm industry set to be a cornerstone of Ghana’s renewed agricultural agenda.