Refuting the “Best CEO of JM” Narrative

Refuting the “Best CEO of JM” Narrative: The TCDA Reality

January 16, 2026

The recent front-page claim by The Inquisitor hailing certain appointees as “JM’s Best CEOs” has raised serious questions, particularly regarding the inclusion of Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA).

While the headline seeks to project excellence under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, evidence from the operational performance of TCDA paints a far less flattering picture.

The Tree Crops Development Authority was established with a clear mandate: to regulate, develop, and modernize Ghana’s tree crop sector including cocoa, cashew, rubber, oil palm, coconut, and shea while ensuring farmer empowerment, value-chain efficiency, and export competitiveness. However, under Dr. Okrah’s stewardship, stakeholders argue that the Authority has struggled to translate policy intentions into tangible results.

Farmer associations and sector players have repeatedly expressed concern over slow implementation of regulatory frameworks, weak coordination with key institutions, and delays in rolling out critical support systems for smallholder farmers. Promised interventions to stabilize pricing, improve seedling distribution, and strengthen extension services have either stalled or failed to reach scale. In several regions, farmer confidence in TCDA has reportedly declined due to inconsistent engagement and unmet expectations.

Internally, the Authority has also been plagued by administrative inefficiencies. Sources familiar with TCDA’s operations cite poor strategic direction, lack of clarity in operational priorities, and weak inter-agency collaboration as persistent challenges. Rather than emerging as a transformative institution in Ghana’s agricultural reform agenda, TCDA has been perceived by critics as reactive and disconnected from the realities on the ground.

These concerns have not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of government. Contrary to the celebratory narrative advanced by the newspaper, credible information indicates that the President has opted to replace Dr. Andy Osei Okrah as CEO of TCDA due to poor performance and failure to meet key deliverables. The decision forms part of a broader effort to restore credibility, urgency, and results-driven leadership within strategic state institutions.

In this context, the “Best CEO” label appears deeply flawed. Public service excellence cannot be manufactured through headlines or promotional features; it must be earned through impact, accountability, and measurable progress especially in a sector as critical as agriculture.

The TCDA episode serves as a reminder that governance must be judged by outcomes, not optics. As Ghana seeks to reposition its tree crops sector as a pillar of economic growth, leadership that falls short of its mandate cannot and should not be shielded by premature accolades.