Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to establish a cashew processing factory in Sampa if elected President.
During an interaction with cashew farmers in Sampa, in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region, Mr. Mahama emphasized the need to process cashew locally for export to generate foreign exchange, which could contribute to the development of the area.
He pointed out that although many residents in the region are cashew farmers, they do not receive the full benefits of their labor.
Mr. Mahama also noted that while the Tree Development Authority sets an annual cashew price, many buyers do not adhere to it. He highlighted the issue, explaining that if a farmer insists on the Tree Development Authority’s price, buyers may opt to purchase from other farmers instead.
To further support cashew farming, Mr. Mahama proposed that the government would facilitate access to land for cashew farming, provide water and electricity, and build roads leading to the factory. This would encourage both local and foreign investors to establish cashew factories, creating a reliable market for farmers to sell their produce, which would then be processed and exported, generating foreign exchange to develop the Sampa area.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of providing farmers with seedlings and small loans to expand their farms. According to Mr. Mahama, current cashew production in the country is below 200,000 tonnes, but with adequate support, this figure could rise to 700,000 tonnes.
He noted that if Ghana could achieve this level of production, even without further processing, exporting the cashew could bring in up to $1 billion in foreign exchange.