Government unveils plan to create 500,000 jobs through expansion of economic crops like oil palm

The Government of Ghana is set to roll out a major agriculture-driven jobs initiative that could create more than 500,000 employment opportunities across the country.

This is part of a new strategy to transform the sector and accelerate inclusive economic growth.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the plan during a high-level meeting with Regional Vice President for Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ethiopis Tafara, held in Washington DC.

The talks focused on deepening collaboration between Ghana and the IFC to unlock new investment and support for the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.

According to Dr. Forson, the government is finalising a comprehensive Oil Palm Plantation Policy, to be presented in the 2026 Budget, as part of a broader push to develop economic crops.

The initiative aims to harness the full potential of these crops to generate large-scale employment along the value chain — from cultivation and processing to manufacturing and exports.

“The opportunities in economic crops are immense. With the right investment and strategic partnerships, Ghana can create over 500,000 jobs across the value chain,” Dr. Forson said, adding that agriculture will be placed at the centre of the country’s economic transformation agenda.

According to him, developing such large-scale plantations requires patient capital, and the government is therefore working closely with the World Bank, IFC, and other development partners to mobilise the financing needed to support private sector-led growth in the sector. The initiative aligns with the IFC’s own priorities.

Mr. Tafara reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to working with Ghana to address its development priorities, describing agriculture as a key pathway to harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend and creating sustainable employment.

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