Ghana is positioning agriculture at the centre of its next phase of economic transformation through a new Oil Palm Plantation Policy, which is expected to be unveiled in the 2026 national budget, according to Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The policy, currently in its final stages of preparation, is designed to restructure Ghana’s oil palm industry into a major source of jobs, industrial raw materials, and exports. It will serve as a cornerstone of government’s broader plan to diversify the economy through agro-industrial value chain development.
Speaking after high-level talks with the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa, Ethiopis Tafara, in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Annual Spring Meetings, Dr. Forson said the initiative will not only expand cultivation but also deepen local processing and manufacturing.
“With the right investment and partnerships, we believe Ghana can create over 500,000 jobs across the value chain — from cultivation and processing to manufacturing and exports,” Dr. Forson said in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
He underscored the need for long-term, patient capital to finance the large-scale transformation, noting that the government is working closely with the World Bank, IFC, and other development partners to attract sustainable financing and spur private sector participation.
“Ghana is ready to move,” Dr. Forson declared. “Together with our partners, we will harness the power of agriculture to deliver inclusive growth, create jobs, and place economic crops at the heart of our nation’s transformation agenda.”
Analysts say the upcoming policy signals a strategic shift toward value addition in agriculture, with potential to reduce imports, boost export revenues, and stimulate rural economies through employment opportunities and industrial linkages.
