PAC Urges Tree Crops Development Authority To Productively Utilize GH¢25 Million Capital Reserve

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the Tree Crops Development Authority to strategically utilize approximately GH¢25 million remaining in its official account to accelerate institutional operations and bolster agricultural development.

Speaking during the fifth sitting of public hearings examining the 2025 Auditor-General’s reports, the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, detailed the institution’s ongoing work in regulating six priority tree crops: cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango, and shea. Dr. Okrah highlighted that the Authority has successfully conducted technical training programs for local farmers across the country to improve crop yields, enhance value addition, and boost export capacity.

While commending Dr. Okrah and his management team for their operational achievements, the parliamentary committee instructed the Authority to resolve administrative oversights by securing all outstanding vehicle registration and ownership documentation for state vehicles purchased under its name.

In related proceedings, the PAC issued directives to other state entities cited in the audit report. The committee ordered Dr. Benedict Bonaventure Aligeba, the former Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR), to immediately vacate his official state bungalow, noting that his permissible one-year post-retirement occupancy period had elapsed.

Furthermore, the Cocoa Processing Company Limited was cited for multiple procurement irregularities in the 2025 audit review. The committee cautioned the company’s leadership to strictly adhere to the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, and mandated its immediate onboarding onto the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) to ensure full transparency, standardized procurement compliance, and fiscal accountability in the utilization of public funds.

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