New Financing Window Set to Transform Oil-Palm Sector

 


The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) has praised the Government of Ghana for introducing a landmark US$500 million Oil Palm Development Finance Window, announced in the 2026 Budget by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The Association describes the intervention as a bold and strategic step toward transforming rural economies, boosting industrialisation, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.


The new financing window is anchored on the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development (2026–2032) and offers a comprehensive support structure to expand Ghana’s oil-palm sector. Key features include a long-term concessionary facility with a five-year moratorium, funding support covering up to 70% of project costs, and an ambitious national target of cultivating 100,000 hectares of new plantations. The initiative is expected to generate over 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, while strengthening processing and value-addition across the supply chain.
OPDAG highlighted the significance of the policy, noting that Ghana currently produces about 300,000 metric tonnes of palm oil annually, far below the national demand of more than 400,000 metric tonnes. Bridging this deficit, the Association said, will reduce imports, save foreign exchange, and improve the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in rural communities.


As part of efforts to enhance governance and global market competitiveness, OPDAG is working with Royvia Plus International to introduce the DJER Traceability System, a cutting-edge digital solution from Japan that provides comprehensive monitoring and traceability across agricultural supply chains. The system will track oil-palm production from plantation to processing, storage, transportation, and export—ensuring compliance with international market standards, reducing illegal trade, and boosting investor confidence.
The Association believes that integrating such advanced digital tools will complement the government’s financial intervention and enhance efficiency, transparency, and value creation throughout the oil-palm industry.
OPDAG reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the government, financial institutions, development agencies, and private-sector stakeholders to ensure the successful rollout of the new facility. It also encouraged all actors in the sector to embrace sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation to build a globally competitive oil-palm economy.

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