Onesta Ghana Limited, an agro-industrial company, has announced a comprehensive strategic framework aimed at reviving Ghana’s palm oil industry, creating jobs and reducing dependence on imports.
At the company’s second board meeting held in Accra, members discussed the implementation of a palm oil traceability framework designed to modernise the sector and position Ghana as a competitive player in regional and global markets. The framework will guide efforts in tackling technical challenges, securing land, attracting development partners and strengthening government collaboration to enhance productivity and sustainability.
The initiative forms part of Onesta’s flagship “Redgold Palm Oil Plantations Project (ROPP),” a public-private partnership designed to develop a sustainable and fully integrated oil palm value chain. The project aims to cultivate over 10,000 hectares of plantation within five years, with the long-term goal of reclaiming Ghana’s former status as a leading palm oil producer.
The Board Chairman of Onesta Ghana Limited and former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said the company’s plan reflects Ghana’s renewed economic confidence and growth trajectory.
“Since the Ghanaian economy is now showing some positive economic growth, including the overall revenue of the economy, the stability of the cedi, exchange rate and interest rates, the time has come to implement this comprehensive traceability system to guarantee that all palm oil produced by Onesta meets high standards of quality, ethical sourcing and transparency,” he said.
He added that the company has already secured significant support from traditional leaders in the Eastern and Central regions for land acquisition to begin large-scale production. “This was a very good board meeting. There was good collaboration, good information and good exchange. We need more collaborations, especially from financial institutions, to empower our growth. I am very optimistic that Onesta Ghana will exceed its expectations and targets at the end of the project,” he said.
Dr Spio-Garbrah also revealed that Onesta Ghana will participate in the upcoming Africa Education Trust Fund AI Conference on November 5 and 6, 2025, as part of efforts to attract top talent and integrate innovation into the company’s operations.
The Chief Executive Officer of Onesta Ghana Limited, Dr Foster Boateng, noted that the board is committed to ensuring efficiency across the production, processing and marketing chain to make Ghana competitive globally. He disclosed that a delegation will visit major private oil palm producers in Nigeria in November to explore partnerships that could create more job opportunities for young people.
“Currently, plans are underway. We will be going to Nigeria with some government officials for exponential learning to understand how government can partner the private sector to boost palm oil production. We have also met with the Malaysian High Commissioner for collaborations. We agreed on four areas of cooperation by leveraging their technical expertise and private sector experience to our advantage,” he said.
The Executive Director of Onesta Ghana and CEO of Oro Oil Ghana Limited, Maxwell Nii Commey, expressed appreciation to traditional and opinion leaders for their support in facilitating land acquisition in the Eastern and Central regions. He said Onesta Ghana is also securing land in the Ashanti, Bono and other regions to expand the project’s reach.
The Onesta framework is expected to create thousands of jobs across the value chain, enhance quality assurance through traceability systems and strengthen Ghana’s position in the global palm oil market.