The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), supported by the High Commission of Malaysia in Accra and in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana, successfully hosted a high-level technical seminar today.
The event united key stakeholders from across Ghana’s palm oil and food industry value chain to foster bilateral cooperation.
The seminar convened an influential group of policymakers, manufacturers, refiners, HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) sector representatives, and researchers to exchange technical expertise and explore emerging market opportunities.
The event featured a lineup of prominent industry leaders and scientists, including Dr. Andrews Osae Okrah, CEO of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Mr. Syed Nauzer, Chargé d’Affaires of the Malaysian High Commission in Accra, Mr. Gangadhar Shetty, CEO of Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC), Mr. Samuel Avaala Awunne, Director and General Manager of Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) andDr. Eric Kuunaa Dery & Dr. Frederick Sarpong, Research Scientists from CSIR.
Mr. Syed Nauzer expressed the High Commission’s firm support for the MPOC initiative, acknowledging the vital partnership with CSIR Ghana.
This collaboration is led by Director-General Professor Paul Pinnock Bosu and Dr. Isaac Danso, Director of the CSIR–Oil Palm Research Institute, who serves as the lead implementer of the formal agreement between the two organizations.
Mr. Theventharan Batumalai, Regional Manager of MPOC, identified Ghana as one of West Africa’s most dynamic edible oil markets.
He provided key industry data highlighting the sector’s scale:
Annual Edible Oil Consumption: Approximately 670,000 tonnes.
Palm Oil Market Share: 84% of total consumption.
A critical driver for both household nutrition and the industrial food manufacturing sector.
”A situational assessment has been conducted on the sector, emphasizing the need for coordinated implementation to address identified challenges.”
Dr. Isaac Danso noted that the seminar served as a critical touchpoint to assess progress and address bottlenecks within the local industry.
Moving forward, the MPOC reaffirmed its commitment to Ghana’s industrial growth through continuous knowledge sharing with the CSIR–Oil Palm Research Institute.
Promoting a scientific understanding of palm oil’s benefits and applications.
Enhancing processing capabilities and identifying innovative opportunities for value-added products in the Ghanaian market.
By 1960news.com
