A new partnership aimed at bringing Ghana’s tree crop industry closer to the public has been established between the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
The collaboration is expected to strengthen public education on the Authority’s mandate, highlight opportunities within the tree crop value chain and support the growth of the sector through GBC’s television, radio and digital platforms with nationwide reach.
From farmers cultivating cashew in the hinterlands to smallholders producing oil palm, coconut, mango and shea across various communities, the growth of Ghana’s tree crop sector depends largely on access to timely and relevant information. However, for many stakeholders outside major urban centres, opportunities, policies and support programmes within the industry remain largely unknown.
The TCDA is therefore leveraging GBC’s extensive reach as Ghana’s national broadcaster to bridge the information gap and ensure that farmers, processors, investors and other stakeholders have access to relevant information about the sector.
Through television, radio and digital platforms reaching audiences in 27 Ghanaian languages, the partnership will promote awareness of Ghana’s six priority tree crops, cashew, coconut, oil palm, mango, rubber and shea, while empowering farmers, attracting investment and unlocking opportunities across the value chain.
The Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, said effective communication is essential to achieving the Authority’s objectives, explaining that the partnership with GBC would help educate farmers, processors, exporters, investors and the general public on TCDA’s programmes, policies and opportunities.
Dr Okrah expressed appreciation to GBC for the collaboration, describing the credibility of the national broadcaster and its extensive audience reach as valuable assets in communicating the importance of Ghana’s tree crop sector to citizens across the country.
He also acknowledged the support of development partners NIRAS and Proforest under the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), whose technical assistance contributed to the development of TCDA’s Communication Manual.
According to him, the signing ceremony also marks the beginning of the implementation of the communication framework, which is expected to guide the Authority’s public engagement strategy and strengthen awareness of its activities.
The Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, described the collaboration as a strategic partnership between two state institutions committed to supporting Ghana’s agricultural transformation through effective public communication.
Professor Alhassan said GBC’s television, radio and digital platforms would serve as important tools in helping TCDA communicate its programmes and activities to audiences across the country.
He stressed that both GBC and TCDA, as public institutions, have a responsibility to support the implementation of national development policies and initiatives. He described the partnership as an opportunity for both institutions to work together in promoting programmes aimed at transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Professor Alhassan assured TCDA of GBC’s commitment to communicating, marketing and promoting the Authority’s agenda to Ghanaians.
Speaking to GBC News after the ceremony, Dr Okrah explained that the Memorandum of Understanding represents the practical implementation of TCDA’s Communication Strategy.
He noted that although the Authority has developed a comprehensive communication policy, many Ghanaians remain unaware of TCDA’s mandate and the opportunities available within the tree crop industry.
According to him, GBC’s ability to communicate in multiple local languages and reach audiences nationwide makes it the ideal partner to close the information gap and ensure that messages from the Authority reach stakeholders across the country.
The partnership is expected to improve public awareness of Ghana’s tree crop sector, strengthen stakeholder engagement and support government’s broader agenda of agricultural transformation, value addition and rural economic development.
