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 gave 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.
The conference is a major global gathering of cashew traders, processors, investors and industry leaders.
Dr. Okrah debunked earlier claims suggesting Ghana’s cashew are of poor quality, stating that both quantity and quality for the season remain strong.
“The TCDA expects a strong outturn with high Kernel Outturn Ratio (KOR) this year, as has been the case over many years,” he stated.
The TCDA boss emphasised that the country operates a structured and traceable cashew supply chain, underpinned by a regulatory framework enforced by TCDA.
He urged exporters and buyers to transact only with registered and licenced actors, noting that this enables the Authority to intervene effectively and resolve any operational or contractual challenges.
TCDA has undertaken strategic reforms to streamline Ghana’s cashew industry, aimed at promoting sustainability, transparency and global competitiveness.
Key among these interventions is the extensive stakeholder engagement process that culminated in an official announcement and validation of the cashew price, which was undertaken jointly by stakeholders and value chain actors.
As part of efforts to reinforce regulation across the tree crops sector, particularly the cashew industry, TCDA recently commissioned its first cohort of Compliance and Enforcement Officers.
The officers have been mandated to work with security agencies and District Assemblies to enforce compliance, curb illegal trading practices, prevent smuggling and protect farmers and licenced operators.
Production and processing potentials
The country’s raw cashew nut production has been fluctuating in recent years, with production in the 2024 season hitting approximately 161,000 metric tonnes; a sharp drop from the 230,000 metric tonnes produced in the 2023 season.
However, data from TCDA indicate that the 2025 production season witnessed some 255,000 tonnes providing sufficient raw materials.
The increase of production has enabled processors to set an ambitious target to increase processing capacities by up to 85,000 metric tonnes in 2026.
This initiative aims to boost local value addition, create jobs and increase farmer incomes. Key efforts include improved farming techniques and addressing raw material shortages to support this growth.
