The Government has stepped up efforts to transform Ghana’s oil palm industry, with significant progress made towards establishing sustainability-compliant land banks expected to attract a proposed US$500 million Oil Palm Development Finance Facility.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review to Parliament, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the initiative forms part of the Government’s broader strategy, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, to position the oil palm sector as a key driver of industrialisation, export growth, import substitution and rural employment.
According to the Minister, the establishment of sustainability-compliant oil palm land banks is a central pillar of the Integrated Oil Palm Development Policy. The initiative is designed to reduce investment risks for the private sector while accelerating the development of large-scale plantations integrated with smallholder and outgrower schemes.
Dr Forson told Parliament that implementation of the programme is progressing steadily through collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, private sector stakeholders and other relevant institutions.
He disclosed that more than 270,000 hectares of land in the Western Region have already been reviewed as part of the land identification process. Of this, drone surveys have been completed on over 117,000 hectares, while 46,000 hectares have been selected for detailed Land Use Change Analysis.
The Minister said assessments have so far been completed on 16,000 hectares, with approximately 10,780 hectares identified as suitable for sustainable oil palm cultivation.
He explained that the identified land is currently undergoing comprehensive environmental, social and sustainability assessments, including High Conservation Value, High Carbon Stock and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, in line with internationally recognised standards.
Beyond the Western Region, Dr Forson announced that mapping and land documentation activities have commenced in the Central Region, while preparatory work is underway in the Eastern and Volta regions to expand the programme nationwide.
Based on current assessments, he said the Western Region alone is expected to contribute about 30,000 hectares of land during the first phase of development.
The Finance Minister added that as implementation progresses across Ghana’s oil palm growing belt, the national land bank has the potential to exceed 100,000 hectares, creating a strong foundation for increased private investment, sustainable production and long-term growth of the country’s oil palm industry.
