Ghana to put about US$200 million into tree crops, minister tells cashew conference in Accra

Pinned summary · as of 05:48

Ghana plans to commit about US$200 million to its tree-crop sector, with cashew growers expected to gain considerably, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the minister for trade and industry, told delegates in Accra. She spoke as the 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) conference closed, a meeting that also gave attention to crop diseases and to the shortage of local processing capacity.

What we know

• Ms Ofosu-Adjare announced that Ghana will invest roughly US$200 million in tree crops and said cashew is set to benefit significantly.
• The ACA held its 2026 cashew conference in Accra, and the minister's announcement was made as the event ended.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Citi Newsroom reported that the conference drew more than 520 participants from 29 countries. It ran from 15 to 18 September at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, and its theme was sustainable cashew supply built on policy, investment and partnership. No other report gives these details.
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  Citi Newsroom said the ACA called for firmer policies, more investment and closer public-private cooperation, and that its Board Vice President, Boubacar Konta, told the closing dinner on 17 September that growth needs joint action by governments and business. This has not been repeated elsewhere.
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  According to Citi Newsroom, Jerry Anim Jacob of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture urged delegates to convert the conference's ideas and partnerships into practical projects, and the government restated its commitment to the tree-crop sector.
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  Citi Newsroom reported that Ms Ofosu-Adjare asked African cashew producers to treat each other as partners instead of rivals, and said Ghana would welcome investment in processing infrastructure, grading technology and certification systems.
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  The Vaultz News reported that participants in a forum on pests and diseases said these threats limit cashew output across Africa, and that early risk identification and preparation before outbreaks are needed. Dr Godfred Awudzi, a researcher with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, moderated it.
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  The Vaultz News, citing the ACA, put Africa's share of world raw cashew production at about 58 percent, with only about 20 percent processed on the continent. It also cited estimates that pests and diseases can cut output per hectare from a possible 1,500 kg to under 500 kg in many regions. Neither figure appears in other reports.
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  According to The Vaultz News, the forum urged a move from reactive spraying to integrated pest management that combines forecasting, early warning, biological control, farming practices and careful chemical use, and heard that powdery mildew is a growing worry in West Africa.
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  The Vaultz News said Minister of Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku described processing as a chance to transform rural areas, one that relies on steady, high-quality raw supply. It also said stakeholders agreed to create pest and disease surveillance networks linking Mozambique, Tanzania, Benin, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, to invest in resistant varieties and bio-pesticides, and to build forecasting into advisory services. No other report has confirmed these points.
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  The Vaultz News reported that Issaka Mohamed Salifou, of the GIZ project MOVE-ComCashew, said farm-level forecasting cannot work without technology and extension services, and that the project is training lead farmers in Ghana alongside the Tree Crops Development Authority and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.

Why it matters for Ghana

Cashew is grown by smallholders in parts of Ghana, and pests, disease and a shortage of local processors are among the problems they face. Money directed at tree crops could shape farm support and jobs in cashew-growing districts, although the reports do not say how the US$200 million will be spent or when. Growers and processors will be watching for details on how the funds are shared across crops.