ofi, GIZ launch Cashew project to empower 1,000 in Techiman

ofi (Olam Food Ingredients) in Ghana is a leading ingredients company. It exports cocoa and cashew products. Recently, it partnered with the GIZ project MOVE-ComCashew. Together, they launched the 'Cashew Apple as a Recipe for Women and Youth Empowerment' project in Techiman.

The project aims to train 1,000 women and youth. They will learn how to process cashew apples for domestic use and commercial sale. The initiative will also equip farmers with business and marketing skills. This training will help create sustainable jobs and improve harvest handling of cashew apples.

Supporting cashew households is part of ofi’s sustainability targets for 2030. Eric Asare Botwe, country head of ofi Ghana Limited, spoke at the launch. He called the initiative a “transformative journey rooted in innovation.” He emphasized that this project empowers rural communities through processing cashew apples.

Botwe noted that cashew apples are often undervalued despite their potential. Training women and youth to make juice, jam, and kebabs creates new income opportunities. This initiative focuses on human-centered economic growth.

Mrs. Beate Weiskopf, Project Lead of GIZ/MOVE ComCashew, praised ofi's selection for the Matching Grant Fund. She highlighted that the project aims to improve livelihoods by introducing small-scale processing of discarded cashew apples. She encouraged beneficiaries to participate actively in this empowerment initiative.

Adom Kwabena Johnson, District Chief Executive for Techiman North, welcomed the project. He expressed strong support from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Johnson stressed its potential to reduce unemployment and promote rural development.

The ceremonial launch included Dipen Joshi from ofi's cashew business and representatives from GIZ. An exhibition showcased how beneficiaries can transform ripe cashew apples into products like juice and jam.

ofi and GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew hope to expand this initiative to more communities. Their long-term goal is to strengthen rural livelihoods through climate-resilient agribusiness across Ghana. The Matching Grant Fund project is co-funded by the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ).