The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Hon. Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has paid a courtesy call on the Wa Naa, His Majesty Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, as part of his working visit to the Upper West Region.
The engagement, which brought together management of the Authority and traditional leaders in Wa, focused on strengthening collaboration between the TCDA and traditional authorities in the regulation, protection and sustainable development of Ghana’s tree crops sector.
Dr. Okrah used the opportunity to brief the Wa Naa and his traditional council on the mandate of the TCDA and measures being undertaken by the Authority to regulate and develop the tree crops industry.
He explained the implementation of the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), as well as the Tree Crops Development Authority Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471), stressing the need for effective collaboration with traditional authorities and local communities.
According to him, the success of the regulatory framework would require the active involvement of stakeholders at the community level, particularly traditional leaders who play an important role in the protection and management of natural resources within their traditional areas.
The discussions also placed particular emphasis on Ghana’s shea resources, which remain an important economic asset and source of livelihood for many communities, particularly in the northern parts of the country.
Dr. Okrah underscored the need for concerted efforts to protect shea trees and ensure that the resource is sustainably managed for the benefit of present and future generations.
He noted that closer cooperation between the TCDA, traditional authorities and local communities would help address challenges affecting the tree crops sector while creating an enabling environment for its growth and development.
The CEO’s visit also provided an opportunity for the Authority to deepen its engagement with stakeholders in the Upper West Region and enhance public understanding of the regulatory measures governing the tree crops industry.
The Wa Naa’s engagement with the TCDA management was therefore seen as an important step towards building stronger partnerships with traditional institutions in the region.
The TCDA, established under Act 1010, is responsible for regulating and promoting the development of designated tree crops in Ghana, with the broader objective of improving production, processing, marketing and the livelihoods of people involved in the sector.
The Authority’s engagement with traditional leaders is expected to contribute to the effective implementation of its programmes, particularly in communities where tree crops such as shea constitute an important component of the local economy.
The visit formed part of Dr. Okrah’s working engagements in the Upper West Region, where the TCDA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder cooperation and promote sustainable development of the tree crops sector.
The meeting with the Wa Naa and traditional leaders reaffirmed the importance of traditional institutions in protecting Ghana’s natural resources and supporting government efforts to develop the tree crops industry.
It also highlighted the need for sustained collaboration among the TCDA, traditional authorities, farmers, processors, traders and local communities to ensure that Ghana’s tree crops resources are protected and developed into a more sustainable and economically beneficial sector.
