
The Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo Ababio III has donated 3,000 acres of land to the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) to scale up tree crop production, generate youth employment, and revive the economic fortunes of the Akuapem enclave.
The land, made available through the OKWAF Foundation, will be used for the cultivation and processing of oil palm, mango, and coconut, three high-potential crops long associated with Akuapem’s agrarian history, but underexploited in recent decades.
At a ceremony on August 1, 2025, held at the Okuapehene’s Palace in Akropong, traditional leaders, government officials, and development experts gathered to witness what many hailed as a model for public-traditional collaboration in national development.
“This must not just be something written down but something put to work,” the Okuapehene declared in a firm address. “Let us help develop our country and feed our country.”
A Strategic Intervention
Ghana currently spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually importing food products it has the potential to produce domestically. In 2023 alone, the country imported $133 million worth of palm oil, mainly from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Côte d’Ivoire, despite having the right climate and soils for palm cultivation.
For Dr. Andy Okra, CEO of TCDA, the 3,000-acre donation is a long-awaited breakthrough.
“Access to large, unencumbered land is the number one challenge for rolling out our national tree crop strategy. This donation clears that hurdle and gives us a platform to demonstrate what is possible with coordinated planning, investment, and execution,” he said.
The land will serve as a flagship demonstration site where oil palm estates, mango orchards, and coconut groves will be cultivated on a large scale. The site will also host nurseries and processing facilities to drive value addition and reduce post-harvest losses.
Reviving Akuapem’s Agricultural Legacy
For generations, Akuapem has been a fertile belt, with its hills, valleys, and volcanic soils nurturing abundant crops. Oil palm, mango, and coconut have historically been part of daily life, commerce, and culture.
During the event, the Okuapehene painted a vivid picture of the past, saying,
“There was a time when oil palm was as common as the morning mist. Every household had one. Palm oil fed our kitchens, and palm kernels were traded for soap-making.”
Yet decades of underinvestment, fragmented smallholder plots, and lack of agro-processing infrastructure have prevented the region from realising its full potential. The donation, according to the chief, is an attempt to change that narrative—not through nostalgia but through bold, practical action.
Jobs, Industry, and Rural Growth
Beyond agriculture, the project holds the promise of massive youth employment in the Akuapem area and beyond. From nursery operations to harvesting, packaging, and export, young people will have new career paths. There will also be opportunities in logistics, transport, agro-input supply, and local services.
“This is not charity; this is strategy,” said Dr. Okra. “We are building an economic engine anchored in agriculture.”
Managing the Vision
To ensure the project does not become another stalled initiative, FYB Advisory, a Ghana-based consulting firm, has been tasked to develop the business plan, mobilize funding, and ensure investor readiness.
“We are here to turn vision into verifiable results,” said FYB’s Managing Partner. “With our experience in agribusiness strategy and execution, we are confident that this site will be a model for tree crop development across Ghana.”
The project will be implemented in phases, beginning with land demarcation, community sensitization, and the establishment of nurseries. By 2026, the first orchards are expected to be developed, with processing infrastructure following shortly thereafter.
More Land on the Horizon
As the event drew to a close, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo Ababio III offered a final charge—not just to TCDA, but to government agencies, private investors, and the community itself.
“This is just the beginning. If this works—and I trust it will—I and my sub-chiefs will make more land available. Not for show, but for real development, real jobs, and a better Akuapem.”
With farming becoming increasingly attractive to Ghanaian youth and investors alike, optimism is high. But all eyes will now turn to the TCDA and its partners to deliver on the promise—and make 3,000 acres of vision grow into prosperity for Akuapem and Ghana.
The post Okuapehene supports tree crop farming in Akuapem with 3000-acre donation to TCDA appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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