The Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG) recently held an interactive capacity building training on public relations and advocacy, bringing together 24 participants from across the industry. The training, supported by the German Cooperation, the European Union, GIZ, NIRAS, GPSC, and Proforest, aimed to equip ACPG executives and their marketing and media managers with essential skills. The session focused on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication.
The training covered various topics, including strategic planning and goal setting, stakeholder mapping and engagement, communication and public speaking, building coalition capacity, strategic lobbying, media relations, digital and social media PR, and influencing the narrative around Ghana's cashew industry. Organisers described the session as interactive, with members sharing first-hand experiences from their various processing areas. Discussions also emphasised value addition, reflecting one of the core pillars of ACPG's wider PR and Advocacy Plan.
The training programme follows an earlier roundtable discussion themed: “Building a competitive and sustainable cashew value chain together.” The September 14 engagement concluded that Ghana’s cashew sector requires coordinated and urgent measures to build a more competitive, sustainable, and profitable value chain. Participants included government institutions, processors, farmers, exporters, development partners, financial institutions, and researchers.
The roundtable discussion made several proposals to enhance the sector, including the establishment of a single national cashew policy. Participants also suggested increasing national cashew production from approximately 260,000 mt to 400,000 mt, supported by the rehabilitation of old farms, establishment of new farms, and distribution of elite seedlings. These proposals aim to boost the sector's competitiveness and sustainability.
The ACPG's PR and Advocacy Plan identifies local processing and value addition as a top priority issue for the cashew sector. The plan seeks to promote value addition and enhance the sector's overall performance. By engaging stakeholders and building capacity, the ACPG aims to drive positive change in the industry.
The German Cooperation, the European Union, GIZ, NIRAS, GPSC, and Proforest supported the training programme, demonstrating their commitment to the development of Ghana's cashew sector. Their involvement highlights the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing the sector's challenges.
The Association of Cashew Processors Ghana continues to play a crucial role in promoting the development of the country's cashew industry. Through initiatives like the capacity building training and the roundtable discussion, the ACPG is helping to drive growth, competitiveness, and sustainability in the sector.
Key points
- The Ghanaian cashew sector requires urgent measures to boost competitiveness and sustainability.
- The ACPG's PR and Advocacy Plan prioritises local processing and value addition.
- Stakeholders, including government institutions and development partners, are collaborating to address the sector's challenges.
