ACA welcomes Ibrahim Sanfo as new Board President

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is proud to welcome Mr. Ibrahim SANFO, President of the Cashew Interprofession of Burkina Faso (CIA-B), as its new Board President.

Mr. SANFO, who has been on the ACA Board for the past 6 years and served as vice president in the last two years, was elected President at the Board’s meeting held on Monday 16^th September 2024 in Cotonou, Benin.

He takes over from Hon. Babatola Faseru who has brought his mandate to an end due to his recent appointment to the office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security for Osun State, Nigeria.

Delivering his handing over address at the Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the 18^th ACA Annual Cashew Conference and Expo on Thursday, 19^th September 2024 in Cotonou, Hon. Faseru, who has served in various capacities on the ACA Board in the last 16 years, and in the last five years as Board President, described his successor as “a very capable person, a true industry actor who, I believe, will work to consolidate the progress we have made so far and take the ACA to the next level”.

Mr. SANFO on his part congratulated his predecessor on his new appointment and thanked him for showing “great leadership and commitment towards the ACA and the growth of the cashew industry” in the last 16 years. He said the ACA remains committed to its vision of building a competitive and sustainable cashew industry that benefits all actors and will continue to work with all partners to achieve this vision.

“Every cashew industry player in Africa is a part owner of the ACA.  I will therefore rely on the support of all of you to move ACA to the next level. I invite all of you to feel free to offer suggestions for the growth of the ACA and development of the sector,” he called on all actors.

Profile of Ibrahim SANFO

Mr SANFO Ibrahim is a graduate of the Nazi Boni University in Bobo Dioulasso. He is an influential leader in Burkina Faso's cashew sector. He has chaired the Burkina Cashew Interprofessional Committee (CIA-B) since 2021 and represents cashew stakeholders on the ACA and CBA Board of Directors as well as President of Burkina Faso Interprofessional Agricultural Organizations Consultation Framework (CCOIA-BF). He is the promoter of PROSPERO, an import-export company for cashew and oilseed products. His attachment to the rural world and his strategic vision have earned him great respect among the cashew industry in Africa and beyond. Until his election, Mr SANFO was a Vice President of the ACA.