The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has announced the nationwide rollout of a Tree Crops Conveyance Certificate System (CCS), which will make it mandatory for licensed traders to obtain a conveyance certificate before transporting tree crop commodities within Ghana.

The Authority said the directive will take effect from Monday, March 30, 2026, and will apply to all individuals and companies licensed by TCDA to trade in tree crops.

According to the Authority, the measure forms part of its regulatory mandate under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 and its implementing regulations, the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023.

In a public announcement, TCDA explained that it is responsible for regulating and developing the production, processing and trading of key tree crops in Ghana, including cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea, collectively referred to as C-CORMS.

The Authority noted that the Conveyance Certificate will validate that the sourcing and trading of these commodities comply with standards approved by TCDA.

“The CCS enhances traceability, transparency and accountability across tree crops value chains. It enables TCDA to monitor commodity movement, curb illegal trading and ensure that only licensed operators participate in the sector,” the statement said.

Under the new system, licensed operators must obtain the TCDA Conveyance Certificate before transporting any of the regulated tree crop commodities within the country.

The certificate can be obtained from TCDA zonal offices nationwide or at the nearest designated checkpoint located at the source of the commodity.

To ensure compliance, TCDA Compliance Officers will work in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Customs Service and the Ghana Immigration Service, who will be stationed at designated checkpoints across the country to verify that tree crops being transported have valid TCDA Conveyance Certificates.

The Authority warned that failure to comply with the CCS requirement may attract sanctions under TCDA regulations and other applicable laws.

It is therefore urging farmers, traders, transporters and other actors along the tree crops value chain to ensure they obtain the required certificate before transporting any tree crop commodities.

TCDA further encouraged stakeholders to cooperate fully with the new system, noting that voluntary compliance is more effective than enforcement measures in ensuring the lawful movement of tree crops.

The Authority added that the Conveyance Certificate System is intended to strengthen traceability within the tree crops value chain, promote fair and transparent participation by all sector actors, support domestic value addition and ensure Ghana upholds its commitments under international trade agreements.