Ghana’s Cashew Industry Faces Uncertainty as Two Factories Threatened with Closure
Story By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
Two local cashew processing factories in Ghana are at risk of shutting down within the next two months, potentially putting hundreds of jobs in jeopardy. The Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG) has revealed that inadequate financial investment is threatening the sustainability of operations in the sector.
According to Ed-Malvin Nii Ayi Bonte, the immediate past President of the ACPG, the looming closures are a result of insufficient funding. Speaking at the Association’s sixth annual general meeting, Bonte appealed to the government for urgent intervention in the form of low-interest loans to support the struggling industry.
Bonte warned that if the factories shut down, even temporarily, they risk losing a significant number of workers. “Once we stop processing midway, it means all the workers will have to be laid off and then brought back when the season resumes next year. This requires retraining, which costs money,” he said. “Those shutting down for two to three months risk losing almost all their workers.”
The ACPG estimates that around 2,000 workers are currently employed in the sector, with approximately 500 jobs at risk if the two factories close. Bonte emphasized that government support is critical to maintaining employment and ensuring the continued growth of the local cashew processing industry.
