Government has proposed
setting-up an Oil Palm Development Agency to enable the country realise the
needed investment and grow the oil palm sector.
Dr. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Deputy Minister of
Food and Agriculture speaking at the Tropical Forest Alliance
2020 (TFA 2020) Action Plan on Oil Palm Development in Africa Initiative
Regional Workshop organised by Proforest and in collaboration with the Ministry
of Food and Agriculture said: “Oil palm development is about our people, our
livelihood, heritage, our economy and ultimately our legacy.
“We don’t
owe its sustainable growth only to the over-6 million people whose livelihood
depends on it, or the consumers all over the world whose lives are better
because of the oil palm, but to posterity.”
He explained
that development of the sub-sector has slowed down over the years; research
shows that Africa presents a new opportunity for large-scale palm oil
production and that a number of companies have established plantations; new
investors are looking for the opportunity to expand their operations into this
region to meet growing demand for the commodity.
Dr. Alhassan said
the production of oil palm the world over is facing challenges –
environmentally, socio-culturally and economically. These challenges include
forest conversion, loss of critical habitat for endangered species or places of
high conservation value, and concerns that large-scale forest clearings may
contribute to climate change. In some instances, oil palm production has
resulted in conflicts between communities and plantations.
“Government believes that the
development of oil palm can be done in a more sustainable manner and with
drastically reduced negative impacts.
“Considering the great potential
Ghana has to contribute in meeting the demand of Crude Palm Oil and Crude Palm
Kernel Oil in Africa and the world, it is important that palm oil refiners,
manufacturers and other actors who influence the sector directly and indirectly
come together to find ways of reducing the likely negative impacts and increase
its benefits.
“We believe this can be done
by joining forces with allies who share the same vision and who are ready to
forge strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships to work toward set goals.
“As we made clear during the
Ghana workshop and throughout this process, we share in the vision of the
TFA2020 Palm Oil Initiative whose aim is to achieve a prosperous palm oil
industry that provides jobs and wealth to local communities -- in a way that is
environmentally and socially sustainable and protects the rich tropical forests
of the region.
“Closing the gaps in this
sector and producing oil palm sustainably will require concerted efforts from
governments, regional bodies, research institutions, private financiers,
investors, technocrats, you and I, to insure the proper understanding and
utilisation of oil palm.”
Mr. Abraham Baffoe, Africa Regional Director
Proforest, said the workshop was aimed at building a shared understanding of
TFA 2020 and the Africa Palm Oil Initiative and share ideas and experiences on
promoting deforestation-free supply chains as a vital element of better
economic growth and making progress toward the global goals.
It targetted updating stakeholders on progress
made in the initial focal countries and developing a framework for a set of
regional principles for sustainable palm oil in Africa, including a timeline to
reach a regional agreement.
Six leading palm oil producing countries in
Africa -- Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria and Ghana -- are
engaged in the Initiative.
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