The government has announced plans to support the establishment of 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations as part of efforts to expand Ghana’s oil palm industry, create jobs and reduce reliance on imported palm oil.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, announced the initiative at the National Oil Palm Multi-stakeholder Roundtable Forum in Accra on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
He said the expansion forms part of a broader strategy to move the sector from policy development to practical interventions with clear targets, timelines and measurable results.
Mr Opoku described oil palm as a strategic crop that supports livelihoods across farming, processing, transportation and trading, while providing raw materials for industries including soap and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, confectionery, animal feed and bioenergy.
He noted that Ghana’s domestic palm oil production remains below national demand, resulting in continued imports. According to the Minister, closing this gap could create jobs, increase farmer incomes, strengthen local processing and reduce foreign exchange outflows.
He urged stakeholders to use the roundtable to develop practical measures to improve productivity, attract investment and strengthen Ghana’s oil palm value chain.