The policy, which takes effect on July 14, 2025, aims to promote order, quality, and sustainability within the country’s oil palm sector.

According to a statement issued by the Authority and shared with Joy Business, the regulation covers the importation of Crude Palm Oil (CPO), Crude Palm Olein, and Refined Palm Olein (vegetable oil). It mandates that all importers, processors, and traders in the oil palm value chain must be licensed under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) and L.I. 2471.

The TCDA explained that the move is part of efforts to address longstanding challenges such as market distortions, substandard product circulation, and unfair competition that have negatively impacted local producers, especially smallholder farmers and processors.

“This measure is designed to enforce quality standards, protect local industry players, and ensure a more transparent and accountable import system,” the Authority said.

“It also aims to generate accurate data on import volumes and origins, and to boost investor confidence in the sector.”

Registration must be completed at the TCDA Head Office, located at No. 20 Nii Tsatse Dzani Street, East Legon-Ajiriganor, Accra (GhanaPost GPS: GD-253-5931). For assistance, stakeholders can contact the Authority via 0303 981790 / 0243 946 154 or info@tcda.gov.gh.

The Authority cautioned that failure to comply with the new directive will be treated as a violation of national law and may lead to sanctions in line with the provisions of the TCDA Act and its regulations.

To promote transparency, the TCDA also revealed plans to publish a list of all registered and licensed stakeholders in the oil palm sector.

Ghana’s oil palm industry remains a significant pillar of the agricultural economy, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to local agro-processing and rural livelihoods.

That would involve the establishment of regional and zonal offices to strengthen monitoring, supervision and technical assistance, he said.

Dr Okrah gave the assurance at an open forum for stakeholders within the rubber production value chain as part of his tour of the Western Region.

The forum brought together various stakeholders, including the Rubber Outgrowers and Agents Association, executive members of ANRAG, farmers, processors, producers, traders, and other value chain operators.

Discussions centered on establishing a strong working relationship to enhance economic growth and efficiency of the rubber sector across the region.

Key issues raised during the meeting included shortage of raw materials, plantation produce, inadequate technical support, lack of enforcement of laws and regulations and deteriorating roads leading to plantation sites.

The two-day tour and engagement were to enable the TCDA to familiarise itself with the operations of the rubber industry in the Western Region as part of a broader effort to ensure the sector grew under improved regulation, enhanced supervision, and better collaboration among stakeholders.

Dr Okrah said the Government was aware of the challenges that confronted the rubber industry and willing to give it the needed support to make it thrive.

“We are fully aware of the challenges facing the rubber industry, particularly the scarcity of raw materials,” he said.

“The government is actively working on measures to address this issue to ensure rubber sector can operate at optimal capacity and contribute to job creation and economic growth in the region and the nation as a whole” Dr. Okrah added.

The TCDA delegation also visited the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), which operates two factories in the region with a combined processing capacity of 20 tonnes per hour, as part of the tour.

GREL currently manages over 13,093 hectares of land dedicated to rubber cultivation, but currently operating below its installed capacity as a result of raw material shortages.

The team also made a stop at Golden Latex Products Limited, a leading producer of medical gloves for industrial usage in Africa.

Located in the Ahanta West District, the company relies heavily on rubber supply from the region to support its production.

Additionally, the delegation visited Yaeric Company Limited, one of the fastest-growing rubber processing and exporting companies in the region, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research department responsible for coconut operations in the area, allowing the team to gain first-hand insight into their activities.

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The joint task force comprises members from the TCDA, the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG), the Ghana Revenue Authority—Customs Division, and National Security.

The leader of the task force, Dr. Paul Amaning, informed the media that National Security operatives received intelligence about the vegetable oil being smuggled into the country from Togo.

The intercepted oil was brought in through unapproved routes to evade taxes and import duties.

Dr. Amaning emphasized that, smuggling activities result in a significant loss for criminal syndicates attempting to bypass legal channels.

He explained that, the task force’s mission is to ensure that locally produced cooking oils are sold in the market, thereby stimulating the economy and creating jobs along the value chain.

He also warned the public, particularly market women, to avoid smuggling vegetable oil across land borders into the country.

The task force, along with personnel from the Customs Preventive Division, escorted the three trucks to the Airport branch for an official examination.

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