The second edition of the World Shea Expo has ended in Tamale, Ghana, with a fresh call on government, private sector, and development partners to take stronger steps in boosting opportunities in the shea value chain, particularly for women and youth-led enterprises.
The three-day programme ran under the theme: “Empowering Women and Youth-led SMEs in the Shea Value Chain: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions.” It was organised through the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness, in partnership with Savannah Golden Tree Limited, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Northern Development Authority, EXIM Bank, Tree Crop Development Authority, and Ghana Cocobod.
The Expo gathered a wide range of participants, including women cooperatives, youth-owned businesses, processors, exporters, banks, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the media. Activities included exhibitions of shea products, policy dialogues, panel discussions, investment forums, training workshops, and field visits across Northern Ghana.
Speaking at the closing session, Madam Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, described the initiative as both timely and strategic. She praised the efforts of women in the sector, calling them “the unsung heroines of the shea industry.” She said the Expo was not just highlighting Ghana’s role as a leading producer of raw shea nuts but also promoting Africa as a centre for processing, innovation, and value addition in the global market.
Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, said that although nearly one million women and young people were involved in the shea value chain, most were excluded from fair economic benefits. According to him, challenges such as limited access to credit, weak infrastructure, and poor policy support have kept the majority of players at subsistence levels.
He revealed that the government had started revamping the Buipe Shea Processing Factory to boost industrial capacity. Once fully operational, the plant will be able to process more than 60,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts annually, with the potential to scale up to 180,000 tonnes if it runs 24-hour operations. The factory is expected to create between 300 and 1,000 direct jobs, and more than 10,000 indirect jobs across the region. It will also serve as a central hub for smallholder cooperatives in Northern Ghana.
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, stressed the cultural, economic, and environmental significance of the shea tree. He reminded participants of the long history of women in shea nut collection and processing, and urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to tackle key obstacles like limited financing, lack of modern processing technology, and restricted access to international markets.
He also assured that the government of President John Dramani Mahama would remain committed to creating an enabling environment for women and youth-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through favourable policies, regulatory reforms, and equitable access to resources.
Observers say the renewed focus on women and youth empowerment in the shea industry could transform the fortunes of thousands of households across West Africa. Ghana is among the world’s top producers of shea, with most of the nuts harvested and processed by rural women under cooperatives. The product, often referred to as “women’s gold,” is in high demand globally for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products.
The Tamale Expo has therefore been seen as an important platform to unlock new investments, promote fair trade, and connect local producers with global markets. Industry players say the challenge ahead lies in moving from raw nut exports to full-scale processing and value addition that can keep wealth within communities while creating sustainable jobs.
