CICC REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE CASHEW SOURCING AT THE OPENING OF THE 19TH ANNUAL ACA CONFERENCE IN ACCRA
Accra, Ghana – September 15, 2026 – The Ghanaian capital hosted the 19th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) from September 15 to 18, 2026 at the prestigious Palm Royal Beach Hotel. Bringing together hundreds of actors from the global and African value chain under the theme “Sustainable Cashew Supply through Policies, Investments and Partnerships”, this event marks a turning point for the future of the cashew sector on the continent.
The Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC), a key player in the regulation and development of the sector, is taking an active part in this four-day meeting.
A strong message from the CICC
Representing the Executive Secretary of the CICC, Mr. André Mahoutin Tandjekpon, who was unable to attend, Mr. Luc Odilon Bazié delivered a remarkable speech at the opening ceremony. Expressing the deep gratitude of the CICC to the Government of Ghana as well as to the leaders of the ACA, in particular its President Ibrahim Sanfo and its Director General Ernest Mintah, the representative recalled the urgency of accelerating local transformation in Africa.
Although the African continent accounts for about 60% of the world’s cashew production, it still captures only 25-30% of value-added opportunities due to the export of almost most of its gross production. For the CICC, this situation calls for a paradigm shift based on three fundamental pillars:
- Incentive and harmonized public policies, securing the flow of raw materials to local processors.
- Massive and targeted investments, both public and private, to modernize storage infrastructure and strengthen research and development.
- Long-term win-win partnerships between all links in the chain.
Ghana hailed as a model of industrial synergy
The CICC also commended the efforts of the Government of Ghana for its favorable policy framework for the establishment of leading industrial giants, such as USIBRAS Ghana Limited, inviting participants to discover this infrastructure during field visits to be inspired by it at the sub-regional level.
Faced with persistent challenges – such as the volatility of raw nut prices observed in recent years with a timid rebound in 2026, the impact of climate change, the application of incentive measures or the need for reliable statistical data – the CICC recalls that only a pooling of efforts at the intergovernmental level will make it possible to provide sustainable responses.
The ACA, a privileged strategic partner
In its vision, the CICC reaffirms its position as a bridge between the political decisions of its member countries and the realities of the private sector carried by the ACA. This 19th edition of the Accra conference is thus positioned as an appropriate platform to transform challenges into concrete opportunities, in order to build a more competitive, integrated and sovereign African cashew industry.
