By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, Jan. 27, GNA – The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has organised a two-week intensive training for the first cohort of its compliance and enforcement officers to strengthen regulation in the tree crop sector.
The task force, made up of 85 officers, will work closely with Customs, Immigration, Police, National Security, District Assemblies and other state institutions to enforce standards and bring sanity to the sector.
The officers received training in physical drills, basic agronomy of six selected crops, TCDA legal and regulatory frameworks, compliance monitoring, operational management, leadership, intelligence gathering, public order management, media engagement and professional ethics.
They were also taken through customer service, stakeholder relations, financial and auditing management, the TCDA conveyance certification system, and field practicals.
Mr Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, speaking at the passing-out ceremony in Kumasi, commended TCDA for demonstrating readiness to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation through the establishment of the compliance and enforcement unit.
He said the unit would operationalise TCDA regulations under L.I. 2471, including inspection, supervision, registration and licensing of actors along the value chain, enforcement of quality standards, traceability, accreditation and collection of TCDA levies.
Mr Opoku noted that the unit would also curb illegal activities such as the illicit importation of vegetable oil, which threatened the livelihoods of over 1.2 million people in the oil palm, cashew, shea and rubber sectors.
He assured stakeholders that the unit was not meant to intimidate but to educate, protect farmers, safeguard investments and restore confidence in the sector.
Dr Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, called for strong collaboration with the Police, Immigration and Customs, stressing that only TCDA was mandated to issue conveyance certificates for the transportation of the six regulated tree crops.
He said the certification system and use of branded sacks would reduce harassment and extortion of stakeholders along transport routes.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Audrey Dekalu