Ghana’s cashew industry, a key foreign exchange earner generating $347 million in exports, faces a growing threat as illegal miners encroach on farmlands in the Bono Region, endangering production and the livelihoods of farmers.Farmers in Wenchi municipality and Banda district are bearing the brunt of the destruction, with agricultural lands, cashew farms, and water sources being severely impacted.

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Reports indicate that communities such as Branam, Amponsakrom, Atuna, Bandaboase, Surubokrom, and Nipanikrom have become hotspots for illegal miners, including foreign nationals.

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These miners, operating with little regard for the law, are threatening the primary source of income for cashew farmers and traders.

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Many farmers face intimidation from armed miners, forcing them to lease their land for mining. Others, struggling with financial difficulties, are voluntarily giving up their farms, hoping to secure quick cash. This disturbing trend mirrors the situation in Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions, where galamsey has contributed to declining cocoa yields.

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Bono Region is a major cashew-producing hub, but farmers already grapple with challenges such as bushfires, rising input costs, and fluctuating prices. If illegal mining continues unchecked, the future of cashew farming in the region—and Ghana’s position as a leading exporter—could be severely compromised.

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Currently, Ghana produces around 200,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts (RCNs), but its exports often exceed this figure due to imports from Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

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According to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), cashew nut exports earned the country over $347 million in 2023.

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