The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) has called for stronger collaboration with the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to curb smuggling and promote the local production of vegetable and palm oil.

At a joint press conference in Accra, the President of OPDAG, Paul Kwame Aminu, expressed concern over the increasing influx of smuggled oil products into the Ghanaian market, which he said was undermining local producers.

“Smugglers are taking advantage of tax loopholes to flood the market with cheaper, untaxed oil,” Mr. Aminu said. “We need to work together to stop this practice and ensure that only locally produced oil is supplied to schools and other public institutions.”

He announced that the association is ready to collaborate with NAFCO to introduce a traceability system using blockchain technology to track the source and movement of oil supplies, particularly those destined for the school feeding programme.

“We have an existing traceability system that can be extended to suppliers,” Mr. Aminu explained. “We appeal to NAFCO to share details of their suppliers with us so that we can jointly prevent smuggling and guarantee quality.”

The association has also urged all oil suppliers to register with OPDAG to ensure that only certified and FDA-approved products are distributed nationwide.

“We want to make sure that all oil supplied to schools meets the highest standards of quality and safety,” he added. “We are committed to supporting NAFCO in achieving this goal.”

On his part, the CEO of NAFCO, George Abradu-Otoo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working closely with local producers to promote domestic production and reduce dependence on imported oil.

“Our collaboration with local oil producers aims to promote home-grown industry, reduce smuggling, and ensure that schools under the Buffer Stock programme receive only quality vegetable and palm oil,” Mr. Abradu-Otoo stated.

He further disclosed that the partnership would be extended to other sectors, including rice and other essential commodities procured by NAFCO for school feeding programmes across the country.

“All our suppliers will be linked to the Ghana Oil Producers Association and similar local producer groups,” he said. “This will ensure transparency, traceability, and quality assurance across our entire supply chain.”