Coconut revitalization programme to create 350,000 jobs – GEPA CEO

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Osafohene Dr. Afua Asabea Asare I, has announced major initiatives aimed at driving Ghana’s economic transformation.

Among these is the Coconut Revitalization Programme, which is expected to generate approximately 350,000 jobs for farmers, processors, exporters, nursery operators, and others involved in the coconut value chain.

At a press briefing held in Accra by the Ministry of Information, Dr. Asare outlined several key programmes designed to enhance Ghana’s non-traditional exports (NTEs) sector.

She mentioned that, under GEPA’s supply expansion project, one million disease-tolerant and high-yielding coconut seedlings have been supplied to the Coconut Federation of Ghana.

The seedlings are projected to cover over 15,625 acres of land, providing increased vegetative cover and boosting production across the coconut value chain. An additional 500,000 seedlings are expected to be distributed by 2025.

Beyond the coconut sector, GEPA has rolled out several other development programs, including the Cashew Development Program, Craft Sector Support, Yam Development Support, and the Pineapple Revitalization initiative. These programmes are designed to strengthen various sectors of the economy and increase the output of exportable products.

“With the coconut the GEPA, under its broader supply expansion project has provided about one million (1,000,000) disease-tolerant and high-yielding coconut seedlings to Coconut Federation, which serves as the umbrella body for all actors along the coconut value chain.

“The seedlings supplied will cover more than 15,625 acres. About 350,000 jobs anticipated for farmers, aggregators, processors, exporters, nursery operators, etc.”

Highlighting the impressive growth in Ghana’s NTEs, Dr. Asare noted that the sector generated $3.944 billion in 2023, a significant increase from the $3.531 billion recorded in 2022.

She also emphasized that many of the smaller export firms driving this growth are owned and operated by women, reflecting the positive impact of initiatives such as the SheTrades Ghana Hub, which empowers women-led businesses, and the Youth in Export Program, which supports young entrepreneurs.

Dr. Asare further stressed the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a new market route for non-traditional exports and reiterated GEPA's commitment to transforming non-exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into export-ready firms.

AM/GA

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