ACA Annual Cashew Conference 2026-Ghana-Country Guide

COUNTRY OVERVIEW OF GHANA

The Republic of Ghana is located in West Africa, bordered by Cote d’Ivoire to the West, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The country covers a land area of approximately 238,533 square kilometers, making it one of the medium-sized countries in the region. According to the country’s most national census, Ghana has a population of about 31 million people.

Ghana’s capital city is Accra, which also serves as the country’s main commercial hub, with estimated population of over 5 million people. The official language of Ghana is English, which is widely used in government, education and business. In addition, Ghana is home to a rich diversity of ethnic groups, each with its own language, including Akan, Ewe, Ga, Dagbani, among others.  

Ghana is widely recognized for its political stability, democratic governance and vibrant economy, making it an attractive destination for investment and trade in the subregion. The country is endowed with abundant natural resources, including gold, cocoa, oil, timber, etc which play a significant role in its economy.

Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and natural attractions make it a notable tourist destination. Key attractions include the Cape Coast, Elmina, and other many other castles, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the Kakum National Park, Mole National Park and the Lake Volta, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.  

POLITICAL CONTEXT:

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, under the leadership of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry Jonh RAWLINGS took power in 1981. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was re-elected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state, but he died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA to become the 4th President of Ghana under its 4th Republic. After eight years in opposition, John MAHAMA won the 2024 General Elections, making a return to the Presidency. Ghana prides itself as the Black Star of Africa with an envious political stability and economic growth.

ENVIRONMENT

Area: 238,533 sq km; land: 227,533 sq km; water: 11,000 sq km

Climate: Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north Terrain: Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

GHANA’S CASHEW SECTOR OVERVIEW

Ghana produces annual crop ranging 150-200,000 MT of raw cashew nuts (RCN) and exports up to 250,000 MT of RCN. Production is largely concentrated in the Bono, Bono East, Savannah, Northern and Northeast Regions. Due to continuous political stability and suitable business environment, Ghana has attracted many investments in the cashew processing sector including both local and foreign.

In 2020, the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) was officially inaugurated. Established by an the TCDA Act 1010, the TCDA is mandated to regulate and promote the production, processing, trading and marketing of cashew and five other tree crops in Ghana. The Authority continues to work with stakeholders to ensure sustainable growth of the cashew sector in Ghana. For additional information, read ACA’s Investment Guide.

Currency

The local currency used in Ghana is the Ghanaian Cedi (GH₵). Click https://www.bog.gov.gh/treasury-and-the-markets/daily-interbank-fx-rates/ for the latest exchange rates.