TCDA opens first zonal office in Tamale to improve shea industry operations

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has officially commissioned its first Tamale Zonal Office in an effort to improve operations of Shea industry in the Northern region.

The new office, which serves as the operational hub for the five northern regions, will bring TCDA’s operations closer to the people, enhance service delivery, coordinate activities along the Shea value chain, and drive economic transformation through job creation, investment attraction, and value addition.

Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, emphasized the significance of the Tamale office, noting that it will serve as a coordination and training hub for value chain actors, facilitate youth employment through skills development in Shea processing, packaging, and marketing.

He further noted that the new zonal office aligns with the vision of president John Dramani Mahama, whose policies under Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) focus on job creation, value addition, and inclusive industrial growth.

The establishment of the Tamale Zonal Office represents a bold step toward realizing Ghana’s broader economic transformation agenda, empowering rural communities, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The Chairman of the TCDA Board, Prof. William Oduro, commended the leadership and management of the Authority for their vision and dedication.

He pledged the Board’s full commitment to ensuring that the Shea sector and all value chain actors experience how this new office will help transform the vision of the Authority and truly move TCDA Beyond Cocoa.

Delivering the keynote address, the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, lauded TCDA and its partners for their commitment, describing the new office as a strategic step toward sustainable agriculture, value addition, and economic empowerment.

He emphasized that the presence of TCDA in Tamale will promote the cultivation, processing, and marketing of shea in creating more income and employment opportunities for local communities.

Also present at the ceremony were Hajia Rabiatu Abukari, President of the Shea Employers Association of Ghana; Dr. Emmanuel Abeere-Inga, CEO of the Northern Development Authority (NDA); and Alhaji Imoro Issifu, Chairman of the Shea Value Chain Subcommittee of the TCDA Board.

The zonal office adds to TCDA’s commitment to operational excellence, strong partnerships, and inclusive growth that uplifts livelihoods and strengthens the Shea industry.