The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has called for stronger collaboration among cashew-producing countries and key players in the industry to build a more competitive, sustainable and resilient African cashew sector.
He said greater cooperation among governments, regulators, producers, processors, exporters and other stakeholders was critical to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s cashew industry and strengthening the continent’s position on the global market.
Dr. Okrah made the call at the official closing ceremony and Gala Dinner of the 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Conference and Expo, held in Accra from September 15 to 18, 2026.
The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, producers and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on developments, opportunities and challenges confronting the cashew value chain.
The TCDA CEO joined the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, for the closing ceremony, which marked the successful conclusion of the four-day conference hosted by Ghana.
In his remarks, Dr. Okrah commended the organisers, participants and industry stakeholders for their contributions towards making the conference a success.
He expressed appreciation to the various stakeholders who travelled to Ghana to participate in the conference and contribute their expertise and perspectives to discussions aimed at advancing the cashew industry.
Call For Stronger Partnerships
Dr. Okrah stressed the need for cashew-producing countries to deepen cooperation and develop stronger partnerships capable of transforming the sector and making it more responsive to changing global market conditions.
According to him, Africa possesses significant potential to become a major force in the global cashew industry, but achieving that objective would require coordinated efforts across the entire value chain.
He underscored the importance of collaboration between producing countries and other industry stakeholders to improve productivity, strengthen processing capacity, promote value addition and create sustainable opportunities for actors within the sector.
The TCDA CEO also emphasised the need for stakeholders to work together to build a cashew industry that could withstand emerging challenges while taking advantage of opportunities in international markets.
He noted that a stronger and more integrated African cashew sector would not only benefit producers but could also contribute significantly to industrialisation, job creation and economic development across the continent.
Ghana’s Successful Hosting
The 2026 ACA Conference and Expo provided Ghana with an opportunity to showcase its cashew industry and engage other producing countries and international stakeholders on strategies for strengthening the sector.
The conference also offered a platform for participants to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration within the African cashew value chain.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Okrah formally handed over the hosting responsibility for the next edition of the ACA Conference to Côte d’Ivoire.
The handover marked the official conclusion of Ghana’s hosting of the 2026 edition and signalled the continuation of the annual gathering as a platform for strengthening cooperation among stakeholders in Africa’s cashew industry.
The transition to Côte d’Ivoire also demonstrated the collaborative nature of the ACA and the importance of sustained engagement among cashew-producing countries.
Building A Competitive Industry
The TCDA has been playing a key role in Ghana’s tree-crop development agenda, including efforts to strengthen the value chains of regulated tree crops and promote sustainable production and value addition.
The discussions at the ACA conference are expected to contribute to broader efforts to improve the competitiveness of Africa’s cashew industry by encouraging greater investment, innovation and cooperation.
With cashew production spread across several African countries, stakeholders have increasingly focused on improving productivity, expanding local processing and ensuring that producing countries derive greater economic value from their raw materials.
The successful hosting of the conference in Accra therefore provided an important platform for Ghana and other participating countries to reinforce their commitment to developing a stronger and more resilient cashew sector.
As Ghana handed over the responsibility to Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Okrah reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the momentum generated by the 2026 conference and strengthening partnerships that can help position Africa as a leading player in the global cashew industry.
