Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to supplying high-quality Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) to the international market for the 2025/2026 trading season, officially declaring the season open and assuring buyers of strong output and standards.
The assurance was given by Dr Andrews Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), during a panel discussion at the 12th World Cashew Conference held in Dubai.
The conference brought together cashew traders, processors, investors and industry leaders from around the world to exchange insights and explore opportunities within the global cashew industry.
Dr Okrah dismissed reports suggesting a decline in the quality of Ghana’s cashew, insisting that both production volumes and quality indicators for the new season remained robust.
“Ghana’s Raw Cashew Nuts for the 2025/2026 season are of very good quality, and we expect a strong outturn with a high Kernel Outturn Ratio, consistent with what we have recorded over the years,” he said.
He explained that Ghana’s cashew industry operates within a structured and traceable supply chain under a regulatory framework enforced by the TCDA. He therefore urged international buyers and exporters to transact business only with registered and licensed operators.
“When trading is done within the regulated framework, the TCDA is better able to support industry players and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s cashew sector,” Dr Okrah noted.
Under his leadership, he said, the Authority had rolled out reforms aimed at improving sustainability, transparency and global competitiveness across the cashew value chain.
These reforms include extensive stakeholder engagements that led to the joint announcement and validation of cashew prices by value chain actors, a move designed to bring order and predictability to the market.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen compliance and enforcement within the tree crops sector, particularly cashew, the TCDA has also commissioned its first batch of Compliance and Enforcement Officers.
The officers are expected to work closely with security agencies and district assemblies to enforce regulations, curb illegal trading, prevent smuggling, and protect farmers and licensed operators from unfair practices.
“The commissioning of our Compliance and Enforcement Officers gives practical meaning to our regulatory mandate and ensures that standards are upheld across the cashew value chain,” Dr Okrah said, adding that the initiative would help restore market discipline and boost investor confidence.
He expressed optimism that cashew production for the 2025/2026 season would meet international quality benchmarks and deliver value to all stakeholders, from farmers to exporters.
The World Cashew Conference is a premier global forum for discussions on industry trends, policy developments and investment opportunities shaping the international cashew market.
