The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office (NCO) have intensified their collaboration to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural value chains and expand market opportunities for tree crop products across Africa. Editorial Ethics & Independence
The engagement forms part of efforts to position Ghanaian producers, processors and exporters to take greater advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to promote trade and economic integration among African countries.
The discussions focused on improving market access, encouraging value addition, strengthening regulatory compliance and addressing challenges that could affect the competitiveness of Ghanaian agricultural products in continental markets.
In a statement shared on the Facebook page of the Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, he said officials from the two institutions explored practical areas of cooperation to support businesses operating within Ghana’s strategic tree crop sector.
The meeting identified stronger institutional coordination as an important requirement for ensuring that Ghanaian tree crop products can meet the quality, regulatory and traceability standards required by African markets.
The TCDA reiterated its statutory mandate under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), to regulate, develop and promote six strategic tree crops. These are cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea.
The Authority’s responsibilities include licensing industry participants, promoting standards, supporting value addition and contributing to the sustainable development of the tree crops sector. Its work covers different actors along the value chain, including farmers, aggregators, processors, traders and exporters.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of moving beyond the export of raw agricultural commodities by increasing domestic processing. The two institutions noted that value addition could help Ghana derive greater economic benefits from its agricultural resources while creating employment and business opportunities.
Processing tree crops locally can generate additional activities in areas such as packaging, transportation, warehousing, quality control, manufacturing and logistics. It may also help businesses develop products that are better suited to the needs of consumers and buyers in different African markets. Editorial Standards
A major issue discussed was the need to identify and address Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that may limit Ghanaian exporters’ access to markets under the AfCFTA.
Non-Tariff Barriers can include complex customs procedures, differing product standards, documentation requirements, labelling rules, licensing challenges and other administrative restrictions that increase the cost or difficulty of cross-border trade.
The NCO and TCDA agreed to work together to identify such challenges and support exporters in navigating the requirements of the AfCFTA market. Improved coordination could help ensure that exporters receive timely information and guidance when they encounter regulatory or procedural difficulties.
The institutions also agreed to designate focal persons to serve as contact points for AfCFTA-related activities. These officials are expected to facilitate information sharing, improve coordination and support follow-up on joint initiatives involving the two organisations.
Another key area of collaboration is helping Ghanaian exporters comply with the regulatory requirements needed to access preferential trading opportunities under the AfCFTA framework.
The discussions included support for exporters in obtaining Certificates of Origin and meeting traceability requirements. A Certificate of Origin is used to establish the country in which a product was produced or sufficiently processed. Under the AfCFTA, such documentation can help determine whether goods qualify for preferential treatment when traded between participating countries.
Traceability is also important because it allows buyers and regulators to track products through different stages of the supply chain. For agricultural commodities, reliable traceability can support food safety, quality assurance, sustainability claims and compliance with importing-country requirements.
The two institutions are therefore expected to strengthen awareness and build the capacity of producers, processors and exporters to meet relevant documentation, quality and market-entry standards. Corrections Policy
The meeting further explored opportunities to mobilise financing for businesses operating within the tree crop value chains. The NCO and TCDA agreed to leverage available financing facilities, including opportunities associated with the African Export-Import Bank, commonly known as Afreximbank, and other relevant funding mechanisms.
Access to finance remains important for businesses seeking to expand processing capacity, improve storage, purchase equipment, meet certification requirements and develop export-ready products. However, the availability and accessibility of financing will depend on the specific programmes, eligibility conditions and application requirements involved.
The strengthened partnership between the NCO and TCDA is expected to provide a more coordinated approach to supporting Ghana’s tree crop sector under the AfCFTA. By combining trade facilitation efforts with sector regulation, value addition and exporter support, the institutions aim to improve the ability of Ghanaian businesses to compete in African markets.
The success of the collaboration will depend on sustained implementation, regular engagement with industry stakeholders and practical assistance to businesses facing challenges across the agricultural export chain. For producers and exporters, improved access to information, finance, standards and market opportunities could be important to expanding Ghana’s presence in the continental agricultural trade.