The Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG) has sounded the alarm over the unchecked export of raw cashew nuts, warning that this trend poses a grave threat to Ghana’s industrial aspirations, especially the much-heralded 24-hour economy agenda.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, António Manuel Caramelo Raposo, the Association painted a stark picture of an industry on the brink of collapse due to policy failures, raw material shortages, and neglect by successive governments.

According to ACPG, foreign merchants are rapidly dominating the cashew supply chain by offering artificially high prices to farmers for Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN). While these prices may seem like a boon for growers in the short term, the Association insists that the practice is destabilizing the local market, starving domestic processors of vital inputs. “This unsustainable practice distorts the market, undermines the national value-addition agenda, and threatens the long-term viability of Ghana’s cashew sector,” the statement emphasized.

Already, the damage is significant. Many member companies under the ACPG umbrella have either closed down or been forced to drastically scale back their operations. For secondary processors, who rely on the output of primary processors, the situation is equally bleak, as the raw materials needed to sustain production are increasingly unavailable.

“What began as an industrial challenge is now evolving into a national economic and employment crisis,” the Association warned. Thousands of jobs—especially among youth and women in rural communities—are at stake, potentially creating a wave of economic hardship in areas where cashew processing has long been a pillar of livelihoods.

The Association was particularly critical of what it described as a “policy vacuum.” Although policies and frameworks to promote local processing exist on paper, enforcement has been weak and inconsistent. “The sector continues to suffer from a policy vacuum,” ACPG lamented, adding that government support has remained limited despite cashew’s status as one of Ghana’s leading non-traditional export earners. In comparison, industries like cocoa receive far greater state backing in the form of subsidies, marketing support, and investment in infrastructure.

Ghana’s Ambitions To Diversify Exports

This imbalance in support, ACPG argued, undermines Ghana’s ambitions to diversify exports, add value locally, and create sustainable jobs under the 24-hour economy initiative. “Cashew, although one of Ghana’s top non-traditional export earners, receives minimal support compared to other agricultural sectors like cocoa,” the statement stressed. The Association believes that without urgent measures, Ghana risks losing not only the processing sector but also its credibility as a country serious about industrial transformation.

In response to the crisis, ACPG is calling for swift and decisive government intervention. Among their demands are the creation of emergency raw material buffers to secure steady supplies for processors, access to low-interest working capital to ease liquidity constraints, tax reliefs to lower operational costs, and power subsidies to make local processing more competitive. “Action is needed and fast,” the Association declared.

Beyond policy and financial interventions, ACPG underscored the importance of public awareness. According to the group, many Ghanaians remain unaware that a critical industry is collapsing in plain sight. “Many Ghanaians remain unaware that a vital local industry is collapsing before their eyes,” the Association said, urging the media and civil society organizations to help build momentum for change and pressure policymakers to move beyond rhetoric.

Despite the daunting challenges, ACPG reaffirmed its commitment to work with government and stakeholders to chart a sustainable path forward. “As the united voice of Ghana’s cashew processors, we stand ready to partner with all actors to drive reforms and investments that will secure the future of this industry,” the statement concluded.