Bono region: Cashew farmers in Bono Region have called on the government to expedite action for the establishment of the Cashew Development Board, as promised. They reminded President John Dramani Mahama to fulfil his Election 2024 campaign promise of setting up the Board to regulate the sector and improve the pricing regime that enhances the socio-economic livelihood of cashew farmers.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Daniel Kofi Munufie, the Interim Chairman of Bono Cashew Farmers' Cooperative Union, emphasized the potential of the cashew industry for job creation, poverty reduction, and export diversification. He made these remarks during a one-day advocacy training workshop for cashew farmers held at Drobo in the Jaman South Municipality of the Bono Region. The workshop was organized by Cashew Watch Ghana (CWG), a civil society organization, under the 'Amplifying the Voices of Cashew Farmers' project funded by the STAR-Ghana Foundation.
Mr. Munufie highlighted the need for the Cashew Development Board to provide strategic direction, policy coordination, and institutional support essential for transforming the sector into a major economic driver. He noted that the cashew sector is one of the nation's leading non-traditional export earners and requires the board to address emerging challenges that affect farmers and their economic activities.
The establishment of the Cashew Development Board is deemed necessary to strengthen quality control and export standards, promote local processing and value addition, facilitate access to credit and farm inputs, and accelerate government interventions in cashew-growing communities. Mr. Munufie identified unstable and low farmgate prices, limited access to affordable credit, inadequate extension services, poor road networks, exploitation by middlemen, and the lack of a clear regulatory framework as significant barriers to the sector's growth.
Mr. Simon Asore, the Functional Steering Committee Chairperson of CWG, encouraged farmers to become formidable in engaging policymakers, demanding accountability, and advocating for sector reforms. He stated that the training aimed to equip farmers with essential advocacy skills for active policy engagement, negotiation, and stakeholder dialogue, thereby amplifying their voices at the national level.
Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the National Coordinator of the CWG, reiterated their commitment to supporting cashew sector initiatives and promoting transparency, inclusive governance, and citizen participation in economic policy discussions.