Policy, Investment and Processing Dominate Cashew Day at Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit

Thursday, 19th February 2026, was Cashew Day at the 2026 Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition organized by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) from 17^th to 20^th February 2026.

Discussions throughout the day spotlighted key growth priorities for the cashew sector, including increasing Ghana’s current production, expanding local processing, boosting local consumption of cashew kernels, apples and other by-products, unlocking investment opportunities and exploring sustainable financing models for long term sector growth.

A major highlight of the event was a strong policy signal from the Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon Mahama Ayariga. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting legislative measures and policies aimed at strengthening local processing. The options under consideration include a possible export tax on raw cashew nuts (RCN) of between 5 and 10% of the FOB and the creation of a structured export window to encourage investment in domestic processing, rather than rather than imposing a total export ban of RCN.

Hon. Ayariga, reiterated the goal of the President of Ghana to ensure that between 50 and 60 percent of the country’s raw cashew production is processed locally, an ambition widely viewed as critical to job creation, value addition and foreign exchange retention.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Opportunities in the Cashew Value Chain, Managing Director of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), Mr. Ernest Mintah, emphasized the importance of effective public-private partnerships to drive holistic growth in Ghana’s cashew sector.

Drawing on his extensive experience in agri-finance and the cashew industry, he noted that while various financing models including debt and equity financing, can support the sector, countries that have successfully developed their processing industries have often relied on well-structured Guarantee Facilities that enable commercial banks to lend confidently to the sector.

He therefore called on government to create the right conditions and enabling environment for local banks to finance the industry, as well reaffirming the need for a resetting of the banking sector.

On the production front, Mr. Mintah acknowledged that distribution of improved seedlings is a positive intervention. However, he cautioned that such efforts must be properly coordinated to achieve meaningful impact. He urged closer collaboration with District Assemblies to ensure that recipients plant seedlings correctly and receive the adequate extension support.

He encouraged the TCDA to collaborate with relevant cashew stakeholders to establish youth-led cooperatives. According to him, such structures would allow for a more targeted seedling distribution, improve extension support, and stronger youth participation in the sector.

Mr. Mintah also used the platform to invite stakeholders across the cashew value to participate in the 2026 ACA Annual Cashew Conference and Expo, scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 22nd – 25th September 2026. The event is expected to convene leading industry players to further advance investment, policy dialogue and sustainable growth in the cashew industry.