Gold Fields-Backed Nursery Cultivates Prosperity in Pepesa

The 28-member company (15 women and 3 men) officially launched its oil palm seedling nursery in Pepesa, marking a pivotal milestone in the Foundation’s flagship Community Oil Palm Project (COPP). The initiative sprouted from necessity: Gold Fields previously transported seedlings from Kade, 300km away in the Eastern Region, incurring steep costs and plant damage."Transportation was eroding funds and seedling viability," revealed Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, at the unveiling. "The solution was local empowerment."  

The Foundation invested ₵180,000 to establish ECOPALMS GH after Pepesa residents donated land. With technical support from the Municipal Assembly’s Business Resource Centre for registration and documentation, the group built a professional nursery. Just eight months later, it has cultivated over 24,000 seedlings, sold back to the Foundation at a subsidized ₵12 each for distribution to 500 local farmers.  

Profitability Meets Purpose
The economics are compelling:  
- Initial Investment: ₵180,000  
-Revenue from Seedlings: ₵280,000 (at subsidized rate)  
- Potential Market Value**: ₵27/seedling (125% higher)  

"Even at our reduced price, they’ve turned ₵180,000 into ₵280,000," Yakubu emphasized. "Imagine their margins selling commercially! This proves agro-business outperforms risky ventures like galamsey [illegal mining]."  

Beyond Palms: Jobs, Inclusion & Expansion

Beyond profits, ECOPALMS GH delivers a tangible social impact:  
- Direct employment for 18 locals in an employment-scarce region  
- Gender-inclusive ownership (83% women)  
- Formal business structure with operational bank accounts  
- Blueprint for the upcoming cocoa seedling project  

The nursery anchors Gold Fields’ strategy to diversify economies in mining-affected communities. "This isn’t charity—it’s a replicable model," noted a Foundation representative. "We’re enabling competitive participation in agriculture’s value chain while promoting sustainability."  

The Road Ahead Over three years, ECOPALMS GH will supply seedlings to 500 oil palm farmers, embedding lasting economic resilience. As global palm oil demand rises, the project positions smallholders for ethical market integration.  

Yakubu’s message resonated: "With ready markets and support, communities can choose prosperity over peril. That’s the narrative we’re cultivating—one seedling at a time."

Source: Nana Esi Brew Monney

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