Dubai: The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) has assured the global cashew market of Ghana's raw cashew nuts' (RCN) quality for the 2026 trading season. CEO-TCDA Dr. Andrews Okrah provided this assurance at the 12th World Cashew Conference in Dubai, declaring the 2025/2026 trading season open and inviting global buyers to patronise Ghana's cashew while guaranteeing them quality.
According to Ghana Web, the conference is a major global gathering of cashew traders, processors, investors, and industry leaders. Dr. Okrah refuted earlier claims suggesting that Ghana's cashews are of poor quality, asserting that both the quantity and quality for the season remain strong. He stated, "The TCDA expects a strong outturn with high Kernel Outturn Ratio (KOR) this year, as has been the case over many years."
The TCDA chief highlighted that Ghana operates a structured and traceable cashew supply chain, supported by a regulatory framework enforced by TCDA. He encouraged exporters and buyers to conduct transactions only with registered and licensed actors, which allows the Authority to effectively intervene and resolve any operational or contractual challenges.
TCDA has implemented strategic reforms to streamline Ghana's cashew industry, focusing on promoting sustainability, transparency, and global competitiveness. Noteworthy among these initiatives is the extensive stakeholder engagement process that led to an official announcement and validation of the cashew price, conducted jointly by stakeholders and value chain actors.
To reinforce regulation across the tree crops sector, particularly the cashew industry, TCDA has recently commissioned its first cohort of Compliance and Enforcement Officers. These officers are tasked with collaborating with security agencies and District Assemblies to enforce compliance, curb illegal trading practices, prevent smuggling, and protect farmers and licensed operators.
Ghana's raw cashew nut production has seen fluctuations in recent years, with production in the 2024 season reaching approximately 161,000 metric tonnes, a significant decline from the 230,000 metric tonnes produced in the 2023 season. However, data from TCDA indicate that the 2025 production season saw an increase to 255,000 tonnes, providing sufficient raw materials.
This production increase has enabled processors to set an ambitious target to elevate processing capacities by up to 85,000 metric tonnes in 2026. This initiative aims to enhance local value addition, create jobs, and boost farmer incomes. Key efforts include improved farming techniques and addressing raw material shortages to support this growth.