The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has urged the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) to put to productive use approximately GH¢25 million held in its account to support the institution’s operations and expansion.
The directive was issued during the fifth day of public hearings on the 2025 Auditor-General’s reports, where the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, appeared before the Committee to respond to issues raised in the audit.
Addressing the Committee, Dr Okrah explained that the Authority is responsible for regulating six major tree crops, namely cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea. He noted that the Authority had also undertaken farmer training programmes aimed at improving productivity and increasing yields across the sector.
Members of the Committee commended Dr Okrah and his management team for their performance and efforts toward developing the tree crops industry. However, they urged the Authority to sustain its efforts and ensure that ownership documents are secured for vehicles acquired for the institution.
In a related development, the Committee directed Dr Benedict Bonaventure Aligeba, former Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR), to vacate the company’s official bungalow following the expiration of the one-year grace period granted after retirement.
The Committee also turned its attention to the Cocoa Processing Company Limited, which was cited in the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report for breaches of procurement procedures.
PAC advised the company to comply strictly with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, which governs the acquisition of goods, works and services using public funds.
The Committee further directed the company to enrol on the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) to strengthen transparency, accountability and compliance in its procurement processes.
The public hearings form part of Parliament’s oversight responsibility to ensure that public institutions properly account for state resources and address audit infractions identified by the Auditor-General.