This month, as we officially launch National Cybersecurity  Awareness Month, we unite under a common banner: to build a safer, more secure digital Ghana. We’ll hear about strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and the importance of updating our software. These are the essential foundations, the “hygiene” of the digital world.

But today, let’s talk about something more radical. Let’s talk about the elephant in the server room.

There’s an old saying in security circles: “To catch a thief, you think like a thief.” In the cyber realm, this adage reaches its zenith. The most formidable cybercriminals—the ones our dedicated agencies work tirelessly to apprehend—don’t just think like thieves. They possess a deep, intuitive, and often unparalleled understanding of the digital vulnerabilities they exploit.

When these individuals are arrested, a critical question emerges: What do we do with this concentrated talent? Do we simply lock away their potential, or do we dare to do something transformative?

We must consider the strategic rehabilitation and employment of arrested cybercriminals.

Before you dismiss this as reckless, consider the precedent. In the world of ethical hacking, the most sought-after professionals are often those who can deconstruct a system with the same creativity and ruthlessness as a malicious actor. They know the backdoors because they’ve built them. They understand social engineering because they’ve perfected the art of the manipulative phone call or email.

just awareness, but also innovation. Let’s champion the traditional messages of caution, but let’s also dare to have courageous conversations about how we build an unbreachable digital Ghana.

The minds that have challenged our systems could be the very ones to fortify them. The question is, are we ready to offer a second chance in exchange for a safer future for all?

Let’s use this month to start the conversation.

Join the Dialogue.
What are your thoughts? Can rehabilitation work in our cybersecurity strategy? Share your views using the hashtag #GhanaCyberFuture.

Together, let’s build a Ghana that is not only digitally enabled but also digitally empowered and secure.

Usibras Ghana Limited, Ghana’s largest cashew processor (35,000 MT/year), invested over $35 million since 2010 and exports mainly to the U.S. Facing rising operational and economic pressures, the company announced on Sept 11–12, 2025 that it may relocate to Côte d’Ivoire. The move could cause job losses, lower farmer incomes, and hurt Ghana’s cashew sector. As of Sept 24, 2025, no final decision has been made, though the government is intervening.

Key Challenges Behind Usibras’ Possible Exit

Usibras cites four main pressures:

• Raw Material Shortages: In 2025 it sourced only 7,000 MT—about 20% of capacity—because raw nuts are often exported unprocessed, while Côte d’Ivoire offers steadier supply.
• High Utility/Operating Costs: Rising electricity and input prices undermine profitability in energy-intensive processing.
• Unfavorable U.S. Tariffs: Ghanaian exports face a 15% U.S. tariff, higher than Côte d’Ivoire’s rates.
• Regulatory/Supply Chain Gaps: Weak local-processing enforcement and limited government support reduce competitiveness.

These factors have already led to downsized operations and staff cuts.

Economic and Social Impacts

The potential relocation could have ripple effects across Ghana’s economy:

• Job Losses: Usibras employs about 700 workers at its Dawhenya facility near Prampram (Greater Accra Region). A full shutdown would displace all staff, hitting local communities hard and inflating unemployment rates.
• Farmer and Supplier Disruptions: Farmer associations lose a major buyer, potentially discouraging cashew production and affecting thousands of smallholder farmers. Service providers (e.g., logistics, packaging) tied to Usibras would also suffer.
• Export and Forex Losses: As a top exporter, Usibras generates substantial foreign exchange. Its exit could weaken Ghana’s cashew industry, which aims to process 50% of its 400,000+ MT annual output domestically by 2030, positioning the country as a West African value-addition hub.
• Investor Confidence: Industry experts warn this could deter future agribusiness investments, signaling systemic failures in Ghana’s cashew sector.

Social media on X (formerly Twitter) amplified these concerns in mid-September 2025, with users like @CediRates (10,000+ views) and @Gen_Buhari_ (12,000+ views) highlighting the $35M investment at risk and youth unemployment implications.

Government Response and Proposed Solutions

The Ghanaian government responded swiftly:

On September 17, 2025, Trade and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare met with the Association of Cashew Processors Ghana in Accra, reaffirming support for a “fair and sustainable cashew sector.” She pledged emergency measures, including:

• Policy alignment with Côte d’Ivoire’s incentives (e.g., tax breaks for processors).
• Enforcement of raw nut purchase rules via the Tree Crops Development Authority.
• Formation of a task force to regulate the industry and boost local supply.

The president, Mr. Caramelo Raposo expressed “cautious optimism” post-meeting, noting the company’s decade-long commitment to Ghana but stressing the need for immediate action to retain technical expertise and jobs.

António Manuel Caramelo Raposo: Championing Ghana’s Cashew Industry.

Background & Leadership Roles

António Manuel Caramelo Raposo holds two important positions in Ghana’s cashew sector:

• General Manager of USIBRAS Ghana Limited, one of West Africa’s largest cashew processing companies, located in Prampram/Tema, near Accra  

• President of the Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG), the unified industry body advocating for policy reforms and industry growth.

Industry Context & Impact

1. Strengthening Local Processing;

• USIBRAS Ghana, with an annual capacity upward of 30,000 metric tons, was set up to bolster domestic cashew processing and job creation. The facility—introduced around 2015—represents significant investment in mechanization and industrial capacity.
• ACPG’s strategic plan aims to transform processing in Ghana—from low utilization to a major value-adding sector, generating thousands of jobs and prioritizing Good Manufacturing Practices.

2. Advocacy Amid Crisis;

• Under Raposo’s leadership, ACPG warned in July 2025 of an impending industry collapse due to raw material shortages, unfair foreign competition for cashew nuts, and weak policy enforcement. He highlighted risks to Ghana’s 24-hour economy, factory closures, downsizing among local processors, and the heavy toll on rural youth and women in the sector.

3. Calls to Action & Policy Recommendations;

• Raposo proposed urgent measures to save the industry, including emergency raw material reserves, low-interest loans, tax relief, and utility subsidies to ease production costs, alongside stricter policy enforcement to bolster national industrial strategies.
• He also called for greater public engagement through media and civil society to highlight the sector’s decline and prevent widespread economic fallout.

Broader Engagement & Regional Influence

• Raposo represented Ghana at major regional platforms, serving as a panelist at the African Cashew Alliance’s 2024 conference in Benin under the title “Marketing of African cashew kernel.” His insights helped position Ghana within the broader West African value chain debate  .
• During the 2024 Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC) conference in Accra, he also led a site tour at the Usibras facility and shared operational learnings with international experts and policymakers.