The Wenchi Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Wenchi Traditional Council in the Bono Region, has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with cashew-buying companies to pay rates and levies on every bag of Raw Cashew Nuts (RCNs).
This initiative was unveiled during an engagement with stakeholders in the cashew value chain aimed at enhancing cashew production, marketing, and transportation within the Wenchi municipality.
The gathering, which included representatives from the Cashew Buyers Association, Processors, and their agents, focused on devising strategies to boost revenue generation for the assembly.
Key topics discussed during the meeting included the framework for rate payment, registration procedures for cashew buyers and companies, calibration standards for cashew weighing scales, and transportation logistics managed by the Wenchi Cargo Transport Union and Cashew Buyers.
Chaired by the Paramount Chief of Wenchi, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoanpong Tabrako III, the stakeholders unanimously agreed on the necessity for all cashew weighing scales to be calibrated and certified by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
Additionally, it was decided that all cashew companies and affiliated agents must undergo registration and obtain a business operating permit from the municipal assembly.
Furthermore, cashew buying companies are mandated to obtain certification from the Tree Crop Development Authority.
In his address, Osagyefo Tabrako pledged to eradicate the menace of nomadic herdsmen and their cattle, which have been responsible for the destruction of cashew farms, thereby impeding cashew production and agricultural development in the Municipality.
He assured stakeholders of the Wenchi Traditional Council’s collaboration with the Wenchi Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) to address this issue effectively.
“The traditional council and MUSEC are serious about this cattle-herdsmen issue, so we will find a way to peacefully get them removed from our land immediately to protect crops,” he stated.
The Paramount Chief reiterated the importance of adding value to cashew production to enhance export earnings and generate employment opportunities for residents in the Wenchi municipality.
He pledged to allocate land for the construction of cashew warehouses, aiming to establish an industrial hub dedicated to cashew processing in the region.
Bono East Regional Verification Officer for the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Eric Akoto, provided insights into the calibration process for weighing scales and emphasized the importance of adhering to standards to ensure accurate results in the weighing of Raw Cashew Nuts (RCNs).
James Kwasi Oduro Asare, the Presiding Member of the Wenchi Municipal Assembly, called upon cashew purchasing companies and agents operating within the area to collaborate with the assembly to foster growth in the cashew industry.
He urged all stakeholders in the cashew value chain to uphold the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, emphasizing its significance in advancing the cashew sector and increasing revenue generation for the assembly.