ACA Annual Cashew Conference 2026-Ghana-Program

Kindly note that the program below is subject to change

2026 ACA Annual Cashew Conference & Expo

September 15 - 18, 2026

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La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana  

Program as of Saturday, September 12, 2026

Pre-Conference Activities: Sunday, September 13, 2026

9:00 – 17:00               ACA Board Sub-Committee meetings

Pre-Conference Activities: Monday, September 14, 2026

8:00 - 17:00  

On-site Conference Registration

9:00 - 12:00

ACA Board Meeting

CCG Policy Roundtable Meeting with Government of Ghana

13:30-17:00     

MOVE – ComCashew Board Meeting

Day-1: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

8:00 - 17:00

On-site Conference Registration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8:00 - 9:00

Arrival of participants

 

 

 

 

9:00 - 12:00

Official Opening Ceremony

Venue: Ocean View Dome  

Presentation of Protocol List: Ernest Mintah, ACA Managing Director

Addresses from: 

  • ACA 
  • TCDA
  • Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness 
  • CICC
  • World Bank 
  • SECO/SWISS Embassy  
  • EU Delegation in Ghana
  • H.E. Moussa Saleh BATRAKI, Secretary General, OACPS
  • Leonie Reese, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy to Ghana
  • Guest of Honor and Keynote Address by Hon Eric Opoku, Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture 

12:00 - 13:00

 

 

 

 

Official Opening of the ACA Annual Cashew Expo

                      Venue: Ocean View Dome

 

Parallel:

ACA Annual

Cashew Exposition

 

 

 

 

 

13:00 - 14:30

 Welcome Lunch – Networking – Exhibition

 

 

 

14:30 – 15:45

 

Policy Presentations: Emerging Cashew Policies in Africa

         Venue:   Ocean View Dome

Moderator:  Olivier Kabre, COP-WEECAP, Côte d'Ivoire

  • Ghana Cashew Policy Outlook – TCDA/MoFA

               Presenter: Dr Rich Kofi Koffituo

  • Nigeria Cashew Policy – Validation Results

   Presenter: Mrs. Olumuyiwa Ajayi-Ade, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment  

  • New Cashew Development Program – Mozambique

                        Presenter: Sir Jorge Vidigal Fole, Director General, IAM, IP

  • Bilateral Cashew Collaboration Agreement – Mozambique and Tanzania

15.45 – 16.15

Launching of ACA Cashew Barometer

Venue:   Ocean View Dome

Launching by: Gerard Klijn, Chairman, SNI, The Netherland 

Presentation by: Isaac Piyuori, ACA, Ghana

 

 

 

 

 

16:30 – 18:30

 

Opening Plenary Session

Sustainable Cashew Supply: Addressing the Gap between global consumption and production

             Venue:   Ocean View Dome

Moderator: Jim Fitzpatrick, Ingredient Sourcing Solutions, Ireland 

 

Panelists:

  • Maria Verschoof, Mama Cashew, Tanzania 
  • Ibrahim Sanfo, ACA, Burkina Faso
  • Herman uit de Bosch, SNI, The Netherlands   
  • Kees Blokland, Nut 2, Netherlands
  • Daniel Gemana, Vertex Agro, Nigeria

 

18:30 – 19:00

ComCashew Viable Project Awards - Business Support Facility   Venue:   Ocean View Dome

Moderator: Lydia Baffour-Awuah, GIZ/MOVE, Ghana 

Day-2: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

 

 

9:00-10:30

Plenary Session 1: Realigning Policies for competitive and Sustainable Cashew Supply

Venue:    Ocean View Dome

Moderator:  Mary Adzanyo, MOVE, Cote d’Ivoire

Panelists:

  • Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, TCDA, Ghana
  • Simplice GUE, CCAK, Cote d’Ivoire
  • Francis Alfred, CBT, Tanzania
  • Gérard MAFFO, WEECAP, Cote d’Ivoire
  • Boubacar Konta, ICAS, Senegal
  • Jorge Vidigal Fole, IAM, IP, Mozambique
  • Christian Millogoi, CBF, Burkina Faso  

 

 

10:30- 11:00

Cashew Break – Networking -Exposition

 

11:00 - 12:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenary Session 2: Digitalization for Sustainable Cashew Supply  

Venue:   Ocean View Dome

Moderator: Wim Simonse, Away4Africa, The Netherlands

Panelists:

  • Mohamed O. Baranon, FENAPAB, Benin
  • Samuel Maina, Equatorial Nuts, Kenya
  • Rob van Santen, Lansa Ingredients, The Netherlands 
  • Daouda Diomande, OFI, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Cedric Rabany, NITIDEA, Francis

 

 

 

 

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch Break - Networking – Exposition

13:30 – 15:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenary Session 3: Investments and partnership opportunities for Sustainable Cashew Supply

Venue:   Ocean View Dome  

Moderator: Elhadji Malick SOUMARE, WEECAP, Côte d'Ivoire

Panelists:

  • Lucia Antonio, IAM-IP, Mozambique 
  • Martial DEGBELO, GDIZ, Benin
  • Samuel Yeboah, GIRSAL, Ghana  
  • Stephen Debre – GPSCP II/NIRAS, Ghana
  • Granh Djama, Tony Blair Institute, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Srivatsava Ganapathy, Eventell Global, India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:00 – 15:30

Cashew Break – Networking -Exposition

15:30 – 17:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenary 4: Leveraging mutually beneficial public-private partnerships: Insights and experience from MGF Projects.

Venue: Ocean View Dome

Moderator:  Bastian Domke, GIZ MOVE, Côte d'Ivoire

Scene Setter: Beate Weiskopf, GIZ MOVE, Ghana

  Panelists:

  • Doreen Caesaria Abaane, OFI, Ghana
  • John Joseph Nkundwanabake, Akros Limited, Tanzania
  • Serge Kponou, Tolaro Global, Benin
  • Anifa Temba, Kikundi cha Korosho, Tanzania
  • Noellen Barber, Nianda Agricultural and Trading Company, Sierra Leone
  • Isidore Woba, ANATRANS, Burkina Faso

17:00 – 18:00

Side Event: Best practices from MGF

18:00 – 20:00


CasheWomen Meeting

Moderator: Nunana Addo, GIZ MOVE

Venue: Ocean View Dome

Panelists: 

  • Madam Fatima Alimohamed, African Brand Warrior, Ghana 
  • Dr Lassina Yeo, AfCFTA, Cote d'Ivoire
  • Madam Maria Silva Lopes, Nna Guinedade, Guinea Bissau 
  • Dr Paul Otung, AGRA, Ghana
  • Mr. Micheal Kottoh, Kofidants, Ghana

Day-3: Thursday, September 17, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9:00 - 12:00

Forum 1: Cashew and climate change: risks and opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

Venue: Ocean View Dome

Moderator:  Issaka Mohamed Salifou, GIZ MOVE, Ghana

Presenters:

  • Anton Eitzinger, CIAT, Columbia
  • Dr Foster Mensah, CERSGIS, University of Ghana.

Responses:

  • Dr. Esther Gyedu Akoto, Researcher, Ghana
  • DeClerq Mensah, Extension Expert, Ghana
  • Antonio Manual Caramelo Raposa, Cashew Processor, Ghana 

Forum 2: Global Markets Live with Jim Fitzpatrick

Topic: Can we future proof the cashew industry? 

Overview: Following decades of growth, the cashew industry faces major challenges. This workshop will explore the problems throughout the value chain from inputs to building consumer demand. It will seek solutions and innovations by engaging with the conference participants supported by invited experts and their insights. 

Venue: Adae Kese Hall 

 

 

 

11:00 - 11:30

Cashew Break - Networking - Exposition

 

 

11:30 - 13:30

 Forum 3: Enhancing Cashew Agronomy for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Growth.

Venue: Ocean View Dome

Moderator: Dr.  Paul Adu-Gyamfi, CRIG, Ghana

Panelists:

  • Dr Benedicte Akakpo - Badou, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
  • Dr. Diatta Marone, ISRA, Senegal 
  • Dr.  Mwadalu Riziki, KEFRI, Kenya
  • Dr Akua Konadu Antwi-Agyarwa, CRIG, Ghana

Forum 4: From Bankable on Paper to Building in Practice (Access to Finance)

Venue:

Moderator: Harm Voortman, P3rsist, France

Panelists:

  • Moses Sonko, Smiling Coast Cashew, Gambia
  • Francis Appiagyei-Poku, KOA, Ghana
  • Antoinette Kneuss, AgDevCo, UK
  • Isidore WOBA, ANATRANS, Burkina Faso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parallel:

ACA Annual

Cashew Exposition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13:30 - 14:30

Lunch Break - Networking - Expo

14:30 - 16:30

  

Forum 5: Strengthening GAP, Harvest, and Post-Harvest Systems for a Competitive African Cashew Industry.

Venue: Dome

 Moderator: Jerry Anim Jacob, MoFA, Ghana

Panelists:

  • Dr Kouami N'Djolosse, INRAB, Benin
  • Abdallah Rajabu Makale, TARI, Tanzania
  • Mateus J. Comé, IAM IP, Mozambique
  • Priscilla Araba Amissah, CRIG, Ghana
  • Dr Oluwatosin Adeigbe, CRIN, Nigeria
  • Daniel Tachie, Experienced Cashew Farmer. Ghana  

  Forum 6: Advancing Cashew Processing Technologies and

 

Food Safety Standards for Sustainable Growth.

Venue:

Moderator: Shakti Pal, Cashew Processing Consultant, India

Panel 1: Cashew Processing Technologies, Innovations, Opportunities and Challenges

  • Ethan Troung, CMV, Vietnam
  • Christian Ouedraogo, MIPS, Cote d'Ivoire 
  • Antonio Manual Caramelo Raposo, USIBRAS Ghana, Ghana
  • Madam SO/Masso TRAORE, Burkina Cajou, Burkina Faso
  • Julia ARTIGAS SANCHO, NITIDEA, France 

Panel 2: Market Compliance Requirements, Food Safety and Traceability for Sustainable Growth

  • Sanata Berthe, ICAF, Cote d'Ivoire 
  • Nii Smith, Agroking Processing, Ghana
  • Cynthia Niamoutié, CILAGRI, Cote d’Ivoire  
  • Charles Kumah, N.H. Food Processing, Ghana

16:00 - 16:30

Cashew Break – Networking – Exposition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:30 - 18:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forum 7: Mitigating Pest and Disease in Cashew Cultivation for Sustainable Production.

Venue: Dome

Moderator:  Dr. Godfred Awudzi, CRIG, Ghana

Panelists:

  • Issaka Mohamed Salifou, GIZ MOVE, Ghana
  • Dr. Bukari Yahaya, CRIG, Ghana
  • Dr. Dele O. Adeniyi, CRIN, Nigeria
  • Dr. Prisca Ehoundou, Université Alassane Ouattara Bouaké (UAO), Cote d’Ivoire
  • Dr. Solomon Agyare, CRIG, Ghana

BDS Training (by invitation)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19:00 - 21: 00

Official Closing Ceremony & Gala Dinner

Venue:

  • Conference Synthesis
  • Awards
  • Address by Hon Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana's Minister of Trade, Industry and Agri-business

Announcement of Next Conference Host

  • Announcement by ACA President
  • Acceptance Speech by the Representative of the Next Conference Host

Day - 4: Friday, September 18, 2026

07:00 – 17:00

 

  • Factory Visit to USIBRAS Ghana, Prampram
  • Study & Leisure Trip: Safari Valley, Kwame Nkrumah Moselum, Osu Castle (Accra City Tour)