The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI) at Akyem Kusi has launched a new rubber production programme to expand its research and support Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings.

The inauguration, held last Tuesday, drew stakeholders including the Director-General of the CSIR, Prof. Paul Pinnock Bosu; the Deputy Director General of the CSIR, Prof. Mariam Dorcas Quain; the Technical Manager of the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), Gregory Mensah; and the Akyem Kusihene, Nana Kusi Boadum II.

Prof. Bosu said the governing council approved establishing the initiative following OPRI’s success in oil palm and coconut research.

He urged the institute’s management to work hard to make rubber a major foreign exchange earner alongside cocoa, oil palm and gold.

Prof. Bosu assured the institute of the CSIR’s support in addressing challenges, promising technical staff from other institutions to assist the initiative.

He appealed to the government to grant approval for the recruitment of new staff to replace more than 100 employees who had retired.

He praised the collaboration between the OPRI and the Sonatra Ghana Limited, describing it as a game-changer for both organisations.

Prof. Quain encouraged the institute to adopt high-yielding rubber seeds to ensure maximum productivity.

She also urged the management not to hesitate to seek support from the CSIR’s national directorate to secure the project's success.

Rubber economy 

Mr Mensah noted that the rubber sector was becoming an important contributor to foreign exchange earnings. He explained that beyond exports, rubber could support industries such as tyre and plastic manufacturing, creating more employment opportunities.

He said GREL currently operates 16,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the Western, Eastern and Central regions.

Director of the OPRI, Dr Isaac Danso, said the institute’s role is to enhance latex yield potential and other valuable characteristics of para rubber in Ghana and the wider subregion.

He explained that the institute would also focus on land use efficiency, plant health and adding value to natural rubber.

Targets

Dr Danso outlined five-year targets for the programme, which include appointing key officers, constructing office and laboratory facilities, acquiring land and setting up field and laboratory equipment.

He said these would be supported by the creation of internally generated fund centres.

He called for an initial budget allocation to cover capital expenditure, personnel and operational costs.

He raised concerns that more than 100 institute staff were casual workers, whose salaries and SSNIT contributions cost about GH¢200,000 monthly.

He urged the government to assist in integrating them into permanent jobs.

Dr Danso added that since 2022, about 55 staff members had retired without replacement, a development that has affected the institute’s performance.

Appeal

Nana Kusi Boadum II called for a review of the institute’s agreement regarding adding coconut and rubber to the original oil palm programme.

He also urged that a citizen of Kusi be included on the institute’s board.