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.

The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).

The announcement was made during the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors, held in Banjul, The Gambia.

Though Dr. Forson could not attend the meeting in person, his message of appreciation and vision was delivered with conviction by Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem.

Mr Ampem extended warm greetings from the Government and people of Ghana, expressing Dr. Forson’s deep humility and appreciation for the honour bestowed upon him.

He acknowledged the significant responsibility that comes with the role and pledged Ghana’s unwavering dedication and commitment to the mission of EBID.

“To my fellow Governors, thank you for the trust you have placed in Ghana’s leadership. I will continue to rely on your support and collaboration in the year ahead,” Dr Forson posted on Facebook, April 14.

Dr. Forson’s address laid out a strategic vision focused on four key areas of development for EBID:

1. Strengthening Resource Mobilization to more effectively finance regional development initiatives;
2. Improving Capital Recovery by enhancing asset management and operational efficiency;
3. Facilitating Non-Regional Membership to broaden the bank’s investment base and partnerships;
4. Positioning EBID as the premier Development Finance Institution in West Africa and beyond.

“With collaborative effort and renewed purpose, EBID can play a critical role in building a prosperous and integrated West Africa,” he said.

Dr. Forson commended Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of EBID, and his team for their remarkable work in advancing the institution’s goals for regional integration and economic development.

Outgoing chairman Hon. Seedy Keita expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Board and extended his full support to Dr. Forson.

He emphasized EBID’s pivotal role in promoting economic development among ECOWAS member states and voiced confidence in the new leadership to propel the Bank to greater heights.

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) serves as the development finance institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), encompassing 15 member countries.

Initially established as the ECOWAS Fund in 1975, the institution was transformed into EBID in 1999 and has since evolved into a unified bank serving both public and private sector needs.

With its headquarters in Lomé, Togo, EBID has been a cornerstone of regional integration and sustainable economic growth, especially since restructuring into a single-window institution in 2007. The Bank continues to finance transformative projects across the region.

Ghana remains a key beneficiary and partner of EBID. As of the latest figures, the Bank’s total commitment to Ghana stands at approximately $ 408 million, supporting 24 active projects across sectors such as finance, energy, and infrastructure.

Notable projects include partnerships with Consolidated Bank Ghana, Access Bank Ghana PLC, Tema LNG Terminal, and Marriott Hotel.