Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana will cease the export of raw cashew nuts in a strategic shift to enhance local value addition. The President urged stakeholders in the cashew industry, including investors, to capitalize on this new policy by investing in processing facilities, thereby ensuring that the nuts are processed locally before being exported.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama made this significant announcement during the official opening of the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit 2026 in Accra. He emphasized his vision of seeing cashew products branded as Ghanaian rather than being exported raw and later imported as finished products from other countries. This policy change also applies to raw shea nuts and unprocessed rubber, with the aim of reducing the importation of finished goods at premium prices.
The Tree Crops sector in Ghana includes various crops such as Coconut, Oil Palm, Cashew, Shea, Mango, and Rubber. President Mahama outlined the government's goal to achieve 50-60 percent local processing annually. This will be supported by the expansion of agro-industrial parks, incentives for private sector processors, and enhanced regulatory oversight by the Tree Crops Development Authority.
Highlighting the National Policy on Integrated Oil-Palm Development, known as the Red Gold, the President revealed the Government's commitment to invest $500 million in developing 100,000 hectares of oil palm, aiming to create 250,000 direct jobs. Achieving this target could eliminate 40 percent of oil palm imports and position Ghana as a net exporter.
The President stressed the government's dedication to scaling up high-impact agricultural value chains with robust private sector involvement. He emphasized empowering women and the youth through opportunities in tree crops, noting that women dominate the shea industry while cashew and mango present opportunities for young agribusiness entrepreneurs. Additionally, crops like coconut and oil palm offer jobs in processing and logistics.
To support this vision, President Mahama announced initiatives such as improved seedlings, farmers' hubs, access to finance, and matching grants for small and medium enterprises to build inclusive value chains. He asserted that agriculture must be modern, profitable, and appealing to the youth.
The Summit, themed 'Sustainable Growth Through Tree Crop Investments: Resetting and Building Ghana's Green Economy,' underscores the role of tree crops in Ghana's green economy. The President noted that tree crops are climate-positive, enhancing carbon sequestration, reducing soil degradation, promoting biodiversity, and strengthening climate resilience. The strategy is expected to drive both economic and ecological transformation.