President John Dramani Mahama has declared a paradigm shift in Ghana’s agricultural policy, announcing that the country will no longer export raw cashew nuts,
shea nuts, or unprocessed rubber. Speaking at the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit 2026 in Accra, the President emphasized a "Value Addition First" strategy aimed at ending the trend of exporting raw materials only to import finished products at higher prices.
The summit, held under the theme “Sustainable Growth Through Tree Crop Investments: Resetting and Building Ghana’s Green Economy,” outlines a roadmap to transform tree crops into a cornerstone of the national economy.
Key Policy Targets for 2026 and Beyond
The government is targeting a radical overhaul of the Tree Crops sector, which includes Coconut, Oil Palm, Cashew, Shea, Mango, and Rubber.
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Local Processing Goal: A mandatory target of 50–60% local processing of all tree crops annually.
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The "Red Gold" Project: A $500 million investment into the National Policy on Integrated Oil-Palm Development to develop 100,000 hectares and create 250,000 direct jobs.
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Import Substitution: By achieving these targets, Ghana aims to eliminate its current 40% reliance on oil palm imports, transitioning into a net exporter.
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Institutional Support: Strengthening the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) to provide rigorous oversight and provide matching grants for SMEs.
A Green Economy and Climate Resilience
President Mahama highlighted that tree crops are not just economic commodities but climate-positive assets.
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Environmental Impact: These crops enhance carbon sequestration, reduce soil degradation, and promote biodiversity.
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Youth & Women Empowerment: The President noted that the shea industry remains a stronghold for women, while cashew and mango sectors provide ideal entry points for young people into agribusiness.
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Agro-Industrial Parks: The government plans to expand specialized parks to provide the infrastructure needed for private-sector processors to set up factories close to the source of raw materials.
Investment Incentives
To facilitate this transition, the President appealed to both local and international investors to take advantage of new incentives:
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Improved Seedlings: Distribution of high-yield, climate-resilient seedlings to farmers.
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Access to Finance: New credit lines specifically tailored for agro-processing machinery.
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Farmers’ Hubs: Centralized collection and primary processing points to streamline the supply chain.
“I want to travel and be able to buy cashew and see 'Produce of Ghana,' not 'Produce of India' or a third-party country.” — President John Dramani Mahama
The Bottom Line
The ban on raw exports signals a bold move toward industrial sovereignty. By shifting from a "raw material exporter" to an "agro-industrial hub," Ghana seeks to retain the massive profit margins currently lost to foreign processors. The success of this policy will depend heavily on the rapid rollout of the promised $500 million in funding and the ability of the TCDA to protect local processors from global price volatility.
