TCDA tightens cashew controls as Ghana pushes local processing

The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) has stepped up enforcement of traceability requirements and local processing quotas for cashew and Ghana’s other regulated tree crops, as the country moves to reduce the export of raw agricultural produce and retain more value within the domestic economy.

The Authority says the measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen regulation across the production, processing and marketing of tree crops, while supporting Africa’s target of processing at least 50 per cent of its cashew locally by 2030.

Speaking at the 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Conference in Accra, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA, Dr Rich Kofi Koffituo, said cashew had gained increasing attention because of its potential to generate foreign exchange, create jobs and support industrial development.

For years, Ghana has exported substantial quantities of raw cashew nuts, with limited value added before the commodity leaves the country. Dr Koffituo said the government was now placing greater emphasis on processing cashew locally to ensure that more of the economic benefits remain in Ghana.

“President John Dramani Mahama’s concentration is to look at how we can add value to the raw cashew,” he said.

He also drew attention to the largely untapped potential of the cashew apple, which can be processed into products such as juice, jams and other value-added commodities.

According to Dr Koffituo, about 90 per cent of cashew apples are currently left to rot on farms, representing a significant opportunity for additional income and industrial development if appropriate processing systems are established.

To increase domestic processing, the TCDA is implementing provisions under its governing legislation that allow a percentage of raw cashew and other regulated tree crops to be reserved for local processors.

Dr Koffituo explained that a dedicated board-level sub-committee determines the proportion of each commodity that should be retained for domestic value addition.

“For all the six crops, we have a sub-committee at the board level that makes policies to develop these crops. We have a committee that determines a particular percentage that may be retained for value addition,” he said.

The Authority has also expanded its enforcement capacity, with about 86 officers recruited to strengthen monitoring and ensure compliance with the new regulatory requirements.

A key component of the system is traceability, which will allow the TCDA to monitor the movement of cashew from the farm gate through the various stages of the supply chain to the point of export.

Dr Koffituo said the system was designed to provide detailed information on the origin and movement of each consignment.

“We want to know if you are farming cashew from a particular community, maybe Sampa, and it is coming to Accra, we even know the farmer that gave you that cashew,” he said.

The next phase of implementation, he added, would require traders to direct a specified portion of their cashew to approved local processing facilities before being allowed to export the remaining produce.

The measures come as African cashew-producing countries seek to increase domestic processing and capture a greater share of the value generated by the commodity.

While Côte d’Ivoire has already surpassed the 50 per cent local processing benchmark, Ghana and several other producing countries remain below the target.

Dr Koffituo said Ghana’s industrialisation strategy for the tree-crop sector would therefore not focus exclusively on large-scale processing plants but would also support artisanal processors and smallholder enterprises.

The strategy, he said, would include efforts to improve processing technology and access to finance, while helping smaller operators become more bankable through proper financial records, bookkeeping and compliance with environmental standards.

The TCDA expects the combination of stronger traceability, targeted enforcement, local processing quotas and support for processors to help transform Ghana’s cashew sector from one largely focused on raw commodity exports into a more integrated value-addition industry.