The 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Cashew Conference and Expo has opened in Accra, bringing together key stakeholders in the cashew industry to discuss ways of building
The report indicates that the 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Cashew Conference and Expo has opened in Accra, bringing together key stakeholders in the cashew industry to discuss ways of building a more sustainable, competitive, and value-driven sector across Africa.
It further notes that the four-day conference, which opened on Tuesday, September 15, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, is being held on the theme “Sustainable Cashew Supply Through Policy, Investment and Partnership.”
The event is being organised in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), with support from the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the GIZ/MOVE Project.
It has brought together producers, processors, traders, exporters, buyers, policymakers, development partners, financial institutions, researchers and service providers from across the cashew value chain.
Opening the conference, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr Rich Kofi Kofituo, stated the gathering came at an important time for Africa’s cashew industry, which continues to face growing demand for quality, traceability, sustainability and responsible sourcing.
He stated although Africa produces the majority of the world’s raw cashew nuts, a significant proportion of the produce is still exported for processing outside the continent.
Dr Kofituo therefore called for a shift from the export of raw cashew nuts towards greater local processing, value addition and innovation.
“Africa must move decisively from being predominantly a supplier of raw cashew nuts to becoming a competitive global hub for cashew processing, value addition and innovation,” he said.
He stated achieving this would require improvements across the entire value chain, including productivity, planting materials, extension services, climate resilience, market transparency and farmer incomes.
Dr Kofituo also called for stronger collaboration among African cashew-producing countries to address challenges such as pests and diseases, climate change, traceability, quality standards, market intelligence and regional trade.
He cited concerns over suspected powdery mildew disease affecting cashew in Ghana, stressing that such threats required coordinated regional responses because pests and diseases do not respect national borders.
According to him, Ghana is strengthening regulation, farmer and trader registration, quality assurance, market development and value addition in the cashew sector through the TCDA.
He stated the country was also working with partners to improve productivity, build the capacity of processors and strengthen linkages between producers and processors.
Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, Magdalena Wüst, stated sustainable growth in the cashew industry required stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
