Former President John Dramani Mahama has announced the creation of a Cashew Development Board as a major step toward transforming Ghana’s cashew industry and strengthening rural livelihoods, particularly in the Bono Region.
Speaking during a durbar of chiefs and residents at the Sunyani Jubilee Park on his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the region, Mahama emphasized that cashew farming forms the backbone of many rural households, calling Bono the “cashew heartland of Ghana.”
“For many families, cashew farming puts food on the table, pays school fees, and powers local economies,” he said.
The new Cashew Development Board will be tasked with regulating the sector, setting fair pricing mechanisms, promoting local processing, improving market access, and supporting research. Mahama stressed that without structured policy support, farmers remain vulnerable to price volatility and market exploitation.
“We must institutionalize the sector to protect farmers and attract long-term investment,” he said, adding that the board would partner with private investors to establish a local cashew processing factory — part of his broader push to industrialize Ghana’s regions.
This sector-specific intervention is part of the NDC’s wider 24-hour economy policy, aimed at creating sustainable jobs, adding value to local produce, and bolstering the rural economy through agro-processing and manufacturing.
Mahama’s vision reflects a commitment to harnessing agriculture as a springboard for economic transformation and inclusive development, especially in under-resourced farming communities.
