The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has welcomed a proposed Thai investment in Ghana’s oil palm sector, describing it as a timely intervention that could significantly boost local production and strengthen the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The proposal was discussed during a high-level meeting held on June 15, 2026, when a distinguished delegation from Thailand paid a courtesy call on the TCDA in Accra.
The delegation was led by Mrs. Urasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General for South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and included Ambassador-Designate to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Thirapath Mongkolnavin.
During the engagement, Dr. Okrah outlined the TCDA’s regulatory and developmental mandate and highlighted the vast investment opportunities within Ghana’s tree crops sector. He noted that the Authority remained committed to creating an enabling environment for investors while ensuring sustainable growth across key value chains.
A major highlight of the discussions was Thailand’s interest in supporting the establishment of a 12,000-hectare oil palm plantation and a modern processing mill in Ghana. The proposed investment is expected to enhance production capacity, improve processing efficiency and promote value addition within the sector.
Dr. Okrah said the initiative aligns with Ghana’s efforts to address its current palm oil supply deficit, estimated at about 150,000 metric tonnes annually.
According to him, the proposed project would not only help bridge the production gap but also create employment opportunities, improve livelihoods in rural communities and strengthen Ghana’s position as a competitive player in the global oil palm industry.
The discussions also explored avenues for technology transfer, innovation in agricultural value chains and broader cooperation between Ghana and Thailand in the agriculture sector.
Dr. Okrah emphasized that Ghana’s stable political environment, investor-friendly policies and commitment to agricultural modernization continue to make the country an attractive destination for agribusiness investments in West Africa.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would pave the way for a strategic partnership capable of accelerating growth in the oil palm industry while promoting sustainable development and economic prosperity.
The visit marks another important step in Ghana’s efforts to attract foreign investment into the agriculture sector and leverage international partnerships to drive industrialization and food security.
