• Ghana cashew processors target 85,000 tons annually by 2026
• 2024 processing was 45,360 tons, just 18% of harvest
• ACPG seeks government support, financing, and energy subsidies

The Cashew Processors Association of Ghana (ACPG) aims to boost the country's annual cashew processing volume to 85,000 tons by 2026, ACPG President Antonio Manuel Caramelo Raposo announced in a statement to local media on September 8.

Achieving this goal would mark a significant increase in a sector that has struggled to grow. By comparison, Ghana's local industry processed 45,360 tons of cashews in 2024, representing 18% of that year’s national harvest of 252,000 tons, according to data from the African Cashew Alliance.

To reach the new target, the ACPG plans to strengthen collaboration among processors, producers, the government, and development partners. The association is working to establish a new strategic framework to overcome structural challenges, including competition from foreign exporters who offer better prices to producers and the high cost of local processing.

"Our processors are operating under intense pressure," Raposo said. "The lack of reliable raw nut supply, coupled with the rising cost of operations, makes it difficult to scale up and compete with processors in other countries. This tour has given us firsthand insight into the pressing needs of our members, and it is clear that urgent support is needed."

In a July statement to local media, the ACPG had already called on the government to take concrete measures to support the local cashew processing industry. The association recommended creating buffer stocks of raw materials to secure factory supplies, providing low-cost financing to help processors cover operational needs, and offering tax breaks and electricity subsidies to reduce energy costs.

The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) projects Ghana's 2025 cashew harvest to reach 255,000 tons.

Stéphanas Assocle