Ghana: Palm oil producers project a steep rise in imports

…cite impact of illegal mining By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) has projected a rise in imports of palm oil into the country, citing activities of galamsey as further contributing to a shortfall and deficit in domestic production. The Association’s president, Samuel Avaala, said though OPDAG is yet to ascertain the full extent of damage galamsey has posed to oil palm plantations across the country, preliminary data available to the association indicate the impact is negative and enormous. The phenomenon, according to Mr. Avaala, may further deepen the country’s deficit in palm oil production and cultivation – protracting Ghana’s status as a net importer of the commodity. “The data isn’t changing quickly to our advantage as we don’t produce more for consumption than we import. We also have to move away from organic production and do something different,” he said. Data from OPDAG indicate that Ghana imported some US$1.17billion worth of ...