ACA Participates in Cashew Master Training Program

ACA has enrolled a team of 3 staff to participate in the ongoing 1st session of the fourth Edition of the Cashew Master Training Program (MTP) organized by the Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew), with ACA in support.. This program aims at producing experts from across the cashew value chain who will be fully equipped to deliver better results in their areas of work in the value chain. During the opening ceremony, which saw the attendance of dignitaries like Honorable Augustine Collins Ntim, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Honorable William Agyapong Quaitoo, Deputy Minister, of Perennial Crops, MOFA, Mr. Seth Osei-Akoto, Crop Service Director, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Chairman), Mr. Kofi Larbi – Regional Director Volta Region, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Host), Dr. Francis Kwame Paddy – Head of Plant Breeding Division of the Cocoa Research Institute Ghana and Madam Rita Weidinger – Executive Director, ComCashew, on the 8th May, ACA’s interim Managing Director, Mr. Ernest Mintah explained to participants that knowledge is as important as finance is, to the cashew sector. He also told participants that measures such as the Cashew Expert Database,  an online database platform has been set up by the ACA  to facilitate networking among experts after they have completed the training and have all retired to their home countries. This will also be one useful means to find befitting jobs in the industry. He entreated all participants to register themselves in the database following completion of this edition of the MTP. Mr. Mintah in his conclusion emphasized the need for collaboration and partnership for a competitive and sustainable African cashew industry.

Over a period of five days, participants will have a series of learning sessions, which will cover the cashew market and value chain concept, negotiation techniques, financial proposal writing, intersession preparation and guidelines, facilitation training, and training material development among several other topics. Participants will also visit a Brazilian owned processing factory with an installed capcity of 30,000 Metric Tons in Prampram, Ghana. At the processing factory, participants will have a thorough overview of the various processes involved in cashew value addition. ACA is honoured to be part of such an initiative as a resource group and learner and looks forward to another successful MTP!