GHANA – The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) has launched a five-year strategic plan, debut “Creating a Socially Responsible, Ecologically Sustainable and an Economically Vibrant and Inclusive Oil Palm Industry in Ghana.”
The plan to kick start this year, 2020-2024, is aimed to improve governance of the association, administrative structure, establish auditable financial management system as well as funding, reports Ghana Web.
Mr Samuel Avaala, the OPDAG President, said the plan was developed through a collaboration and consensus building with veritable representatives of actors along the oil palm value chain.
It also stipulates the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of the Association and the entire oil palm sector.
Since the relaunch of the association in 2015, it had chalked a lot of successes and resolved many challenges. To this regard, the association felt the need to develop and implement a strategic plan to serve as a blueprint for the development of the sector.
The OPDAG President said the strategic plan would improve the membership base and service delivery as well as internal and external communication.
It would also adopt and use globally recognised best practices across the value chain and policy advocacy for the good of the industry.
He said each of the strategic pillars had its own related activities designed to contribute to the achievement of the overall objectives of the Association.
“These pillars are in tune with the changes that are occurring within the sector, particularly taking cognisance of the Sustainable Development Goals and responsible production in line with other globally recognised sustainability principles and criteria,” he said.
He commended the Management of Solidarid West Africa and the Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of Netherlands for their support to the Association and the oil palm industry.
Mr Isaac Gyamfi, the Regional Director, Solidaridad West Africa, said the organisation had been in Ghana’s Oil palm landscape since 2012, promoting yield intensification at both the farm and mill levels through introduction of Best Management Practices and improved processing technology.
He said the organisation had also supported the revitalization of OPDAG and had played a role in the establishment of the Tree Crops Development Authority, all implemented under the Sustainable West Africa Oil Palm Programme.
Mr Ron Stroller, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, urged them to take the initiative very seriously so that “we can develop an oil palm industry in Ghana without the social and environmental challenges we have witnessed in other parts of the world.”
He expressed the hope that the leadership of OPDAG would facilitate information sharing and interactions between companies in the oil palm sector in Ghana and the Netherlands.
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