Local Cashew Processing Key to Job Creation
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
The Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG) has called for stronger support for local cashew processing.
The association argues that increasing domestic value addition is essential to creating jobs, boosting export revenues and maximizing the economic potential of Ghana’s growing cashew industry.
In a statement the President of the Association, Mr. Antonio Manuel Caramelo Raposo, noted that Ghana has developed one of Africa’s strongest cashew industries over the past two decades, with more than 300,000 farmers directly engaged in cashew cultivation and hundreds of thousands of others earning livelihoods through trading, transportation and processing activities along the value chain.
According to him, despite producing about 200,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually and maintaining its status as one of West Africa’s leading cashew-producing countries, only a small percentage of the crop is processed locally.
Mr. Raposo explained that the continued export of raw cashew nuts limits Ghana’s ability to capture the full economic value of the commodity and deprives the country of significant opportunities for value addition.
He indicated that Ghana has already made substantial investments in processing capacity, skilled labour development, and export expertise with support from development partners, including GIZ, the World Bank and NAIRAS. However, much of the country’s existing processing infrastructure remains underutilized due to limited access to raw materials.
The ACPG President stressed that unlocking the country’s processing potential could create thousands of additional jobs while significantly increasing export earnings through the production and export of higher-value cashew products.
The Association cited estimates from the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), which suggest that Ghana’s cashew sector could generate more than 660 million dollars annually through stronger regulation, expanded processing capacity, and increased value addition.
The ACPG further pointed to experiences from other African countries where local processing has generated greater employment opportunities and economic activity than the export of raw nuts.
Studies supported by international development organizations have shown that processing cashew within producing countries creates substantial employment and contributes to broader economic growth.
According to the Association, Ghana is strategically positioned not only to remain a major producer of raw cashew nuts but also to become a regional hub for cashew processing, food manufacturing and agricultural industrialization.
Mr. Raposo noted that such a transformation would strengthen rural economies, create sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people and increase the share of export value retained within the country.
He emphasized that the call for increased local processing should not be viewed as an attempt to restrict trade but rather as a strategy to strike the right balance between exports and domestic value addition.
“By encouraging local processing alongside a competitive and transparent market, Ghana can maximize the benefits of its cashew industry for farmers, businesses, communities and future generations,” he stated.
The ACPG is therefore urging policymakers, industry players and other stakeholders to implement measures that support local processors and ensure that the country derives greater economic returns from its expanding cashew sector.
