File photo of cashew nuts
Ghana has assured the global cashew market of the quality of its Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) for the 2025/2026 trading season, declaring the season officially open.
Dr Andrews Osei Okrah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), gave the assurance at a panel discussion during the 12th World Cashew Conference in Dubai held from January 30 to February 1, 2026.
This brought together cashew traders, processors, investors and industry leaders from across the world to network and discuss topics of interest to the cashew industry.
He dismissed reports suggesting a decline in the quality of Ghana’s cashew, stressing that both output and standards for the new season remained strong.
“Ghana’s Raw Cashew Nuts for the 2025/2026 season are of very good quality, and we expect a strong outturn with high Kernel Outturn Ratio (KOR), as has been the case over the years,” Dr Okrah said.
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He explained that Ghana’s cashew industry operated within a structured and traceable supply chain, supported by a regulatory framework enforced by the TCDA, and urged exporters and buyers to transact only with registered and licensed operators.
“When business is conducted within the regulated framework, the TCDA is better positioned to support stakeholders and protect the integrity of Ghana’s cashew industry,” he said.
Dr Okrah said the TCDA had under his leadership embarked on reforms aimed at promoting sustainability, transparency and global competitiveness in the cashew sector.
He mentioned extensive stakeholder engagements that culminated in the joint announcement and validation of cashew prices by value chain actors as a key intervention to streamline the industry.
As part of efforts to strengthen compliance and enforcement across the tree crops sector, particularly the cashew industry, the Authority had commissioned its first batch of compliance and enforcement officers.
The officers are to work with security agencies and district assemblies to enforce regulations, curb illegal trading practices, prevent smuggling and protect farmers and licensed operators from exploitation.
“The commissioning of our Compliance and Enforcement Officers gives real effect to our regulatory mandate and ensures that standards are upheld across the cashew value chain,” Dr Okrah said, noting that the move would help restore market discipline and strengthen investor confidence.
He expressed confidence in cashew production for the 2025/2026 season, which would meet international quality standards and deliver value across the value chain.
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