Jaman North to digitise cashew revenue collection

By Edward Adjei FRIMPONG, Sampa

The Jaman North District Assembly in the Bono Region is taking steps to digitize revenue collection in the cashew sector as part of efforts to reduce human interaction and improve efficiency.

Sampa, the district capital, has emerged as a major hub for cashew trading in Ghana. Several exporters and buyers have set up warehouses in the area, facilitating the trade of raw cashew nuts.

Currently, the Assembly imposes a levy of GH¢2 on each maxi bag of raw cashew nuts transported out of the district. This levy contributes to the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF) and is collected manually by revenue officers.

However, the Assembly has expressed concerns about inefficiencies in the current manual collection system, citing the vulnerability of the system to issues such as revenue leakages and favouritism. In response, it plans to roll out a digital revenue collection system to streamline operations.

“We are working to modernize cashew levy collection and phase out the manual system,” said George Adane, District Chief Executive of Jaman North, in an interview with the Business and Financial Times. “This new system will leverage technology to enhance efficiency and reduce the difficulties revenue collectors face in their work.”

In addition to improving revenue mobilization, the Assembly has introduced a programme to support cashew farmers with farm maintenance. Mr. Adane said the initiative aims to increase yields through activities such as pruning and gang spraying of pests.

“This support programme is designed to sustain and scale up productivity, ensuring more farmers benefit over time,” he added.

On infrastructure, Mr. Adane acknowledged that Jaman North ranks among the districts with the poorest road networks in the Bono Region. He revealed that the Assembly will strategically deploy District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment to rehabilitate roads, particularly those linking remote farming communities.

“These road upgrades will improve accessibility and ease the transportation of farm produce, especially cashew,” he noted.

The initiatives mark a broader commitment by the Assembly to strengthen the cashew value chain through improved governance, enhanced production, and better infrastructure.

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