PAC Urges Tree Crops Development Authority to Harness GHC25 Million for Growth

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has called on the Tree Crops Development Authority to effectively utilize about GH¢25 million currently sitting in its account to drive institutional growth and streamline operational efficiency. Speaking on the fifth day of public hearings evaluating the 2025 Auditor-General's Report, the Committee emphasized that these idle funds should be put to productive work to expand the authority’s impact across Ghana's agricultural sector.

​In response, the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, outlined the institution’s core mandate in regulating six key economic tree crops: cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango, and shea. He highlighted ongoing capacity-building initiatives, noting that extensive training programs have been delivered to local farmers to enhance crop yields and boost rural livelihoods. While commending Dr. Okrah and his team for their efforts, the Committee instructed management to quickly resolve administrative lapses, including securing full ownership documentation for all official vehicles purchased for the institution.

​The parliamentary session also addressed accountability concerns within other state agricultural institutions. PAC directed Dr. Benedict Bonaventure Aligeba, former Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR), to hand over and vacate his official bungalow following the expiration of his mandatory one-year post-retirement tenancy period.

​Finally, the Cocoa Processing Company Limited was cited during the hearing for procurement irregularities highlighted in the latest audit report. PAC strongly advised the company to strictly align its operations with the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, to safeguard public resources. To promote transparency and compliance in acquiring goods, works, and services, the procurement team was further instructed to fully enroll on the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).

@Volta Today