Ghana is committing about US$200 million to tree-crop production, with cashew expected to be among the sectors benefiting from the investment, as the government calls for stronger regional cooperation to develop Africa’s cashew industry.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said African cashew-producing countries must move beyond competing individually for export markets and work together to expand processing, strengthen value addition and improve the sector’s resilience in global markets.
She made the call at the closing ceremony and gala dinner of the 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Conference and Expo, held in Accra from September 15 to 18, 2026.
The Minister said countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique should see one another not simply as competitors but as partners in building a stronger African cashew industry.
She stressed the need for countries to pursue “stronger regional cooperation” and maximise the opportunities available across the cashew value chain rather than operating in isolation.
African cashew-producing countries are also looking to move beyond exporting raw nuts and retain more value within the continent. Closer cooperation could help attract investment into processing, open up more markets and strengthen links between farmers, processors and buyers.
Ghana’s planned investment in tree crops is expected to support higher production and strengthen value chains, including cashew. The impact of the investment will also depend on the ability of producers and processors to connect with regional and international markets.
The four-day ACA conference brought together stakeholders from across Africa’s cashew industry, providing a forum for discussions on production, processing, trade and the development of a more competitive regional value chain.
