Ghana imports palm oil despite being the birthplace of the oil palm

80% of the fresh fruit bunches, still rely on outdated presses that lose nearly half of the extractable oil, while the sector suffers from low yields, poor technology, and chronic underinvestment. Ironically, the oil palm — native to West Africa — was first exported from Ghana to Southeast Asia, where Malaysia and Indonesia transformed it into a multi-billion-dollar export industry. Today, Ghana lags behind its Asian counterparts, cultivating about 350,000 hectares of oil palm plantations but achieving yields of only 4–6 tons per hectare, compared to a potential 15–22 tons under optimal management. Ageing farms, limited access to improved seedlings, weak extension services, and the lack of long-term financing continue to undermine productivity. For most farmers, access to finance remains the greatest obstacle. Commercial banks are reluctant to offer long-term credit because of the crop’s lengthy maturity period and price volatility, while microfinance institutions charge interest ...