The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has commissioned its new Bono Regional Office in Sunyani, marking a major step towards bringing regulatory services closer to farmers and other stakeholders within the region’s rapidly expanding tree crops sector.
The new office was officially commissioned on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Sunyani, in an event attended by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TCDA, Dr. Andy O. Okrah; the Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Addae Akwaboa; and the Chairman of the TCDA Board, Prof. William Oduro.
The establishment of the regional office is expected to strengthen the Authority’s regulatory presence in the Bono Region and improve access to its services for farmers, processors, aggregators, traders and other actors along the tree crops value chain.
Bono is one of Ghana’s major cashew-producing areas, making Sunyani a strategic location for the TCDA to intensify its regulatory and development activities.
Game-Changer
Speaking at the commissioning, Dr. Andy O. Okrah described the new office as a “game-changer,” stressing that it would enable the Authority to work more closely with stakeholders and respond more efficiently to developments within the tree crops industry.
According to him, the proximity of the TCDA to industry players would facilitate the registration and licensing of operators while strengthening compliance with regulatory requirements.
He said the office would also play a critical role in improving traceability, data collection and stakeholder sensitisation, all of which are essential to building a well-regulated and sustainable tree crops sector.
Dr. Okrah explained that the presence of the Authority in the region would reduce the difficulties stakeholders may encounter in accessing regulatory services and create a more effective channel for engagement between the TCDA and actors in the industry.
He noted that farmers and other operators would have easier access to information, guidance and regulatory support as the Authority deepens its operations at the regional level.
Strengthening Regulation
The TCDA CEO indicated that effective regulation remained critical to the development of Ghana’s tree crops economy.
He said the Sunyani office would support the Authority’s efforts to ensure that actors within the cashew value chain operated within the appropriate regulatory framework.
The office would, among other things, support the registration and licensing of cashew actors, monitor compliance, collect reliable industry data and facilitate sensitisation programmes for stakeholders.
The improved data collection system is expected to help the Authority better understand the size and dynamics of the cashew sector, including the activities of farmers, aggregators, traders and processors.
Such information, Dr. Okrah noted, would contribute to more effective planning and policy implementation within the tree crops sector.
Farmer-Focused Services
The establishment of the office also reflects the TCDA’s broader objective of making its services more accessible to farmers and other participants in the tree crops value chain.
With the regional office now operational, farmers and industry players in the Bono Region will have a direct point of contact with the Authority without necessarily having to travel outside the region to access its services.
The office is therefore expected to serve as a hub for stakeholder engagement, education and regulatory activities in the region.
Dr. Okrah said the Authority would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to create an environment conducive to the growth of the tree crops industry while ensuring that regulatory standards were maintained.
Commendation
The TCDA CEO expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as his visionary leadership and support for initiatives aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural and tree crops sectors.
He also commended the TCDA Board, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Bono Regional Minister and development partners for their contributions towards the establishment and operationalisation of the new regional office.
Dr. Okrah stressed that the success of the office would depend on continued collaboration among the Authority, farmers, traditional authorities, businesses, development partners and other stakeholders.
Strategic Importance
The commissioning of the Bono Regional Office comes at a time when cashew remains an important component of the agricultural economy of the region.
Apart from providing livelihoods for farmers, the cashew industry supports a wide network of aggregators, traders, processors, transport operators and other businesses.
The TCDA’s presence in Sunyani is therefore expected to enhance coordination across the value chain and contribute to efforts to improve productivity, quality, traceability and value addition.
The office will also provide an avenue for the TCDA to engage directly with stakeholders on emerging challenges within the sector and to promote compliance with applicable regulations.
Nerve Centre
The Sunyani office is expected to serve as the nerve centre of the TCDA’s operations in the Bono Region, coordinating activities involving farmers, processors, aggregators and traders.
Through the office, the Authority is expected to intensify stakeholder sensitisation and education while improving monitoring and enforcement within the tree crops value chain.
The development is also expected to strengthen the Authority’s ability to gather timely information from the field and use such information to inform regulatory interventions and sector development initiatives.
Dr. Okrah said the TCDA would remain committed to fulfilling its mandate of regulating, developing and promoting Ghana’s tree crops industry.
He reiterated the importance of building a tree crops sector that is properly regulated, data-driven and capable of delivering sustainable economic opportunities to farmers and other stakeholders.
The commissioning of the Bono Regional Office, therefore, represents another step in the TCDA’s efforts to decentralise its operations and position itself closer to the people whose livelihoods depend on Ghana’s tree crops economy.
