The second edition of the World Shea Expo has been launched in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo.
This year’s Expo, running from the 2nd to 4th of September, is on the theme: “Empowering Women and Youth-led SMEs in the Shea Value Chain: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions.”
Backed by the Office of the President through the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness, the Expo aims to highlight opportunities in the shea industry while addressing the challenges faced by women and youth in the sector.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo said the Expo is significant as it amplifies the voices of women—the unsung heroines of the shea industry—while positioning Ghana and Africa as not only primary producers of raw shea nuts but also as hubs for processing, innovation, and value addition.
The Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, disclosed that Ghana in 2023 emerged as the top global exporter of shea butter, with an annual production capacity of between 130,000 and 150,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts, valued at about 118 million dollars.
The global market for shea, he added, is projected to exceed 3 billion dollars by 2030.
The Northern Regional Minister also underscored the cultural, economic, and environmental importance of the shea tree, stressing the historic role of women in sustaining the value chain through nut collection and processing.
He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to overcome challenges such as limited access to finance, technology, and formal markets.
Government, he assured, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, remains committed to creating an enabling environment for women and youth-led enterprises through supportive policies, regulatory reforms, and equitable access to resources.
Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku
