The Government of Ghana has described the World Shea Expo as a renewed vision to position the country as a global leader in the shea industry through investment, innovation, value addition, and women empowerment.
It said the initiative is expected to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote sustainable development across Northern Ghana through the shea value chain.
Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, the Director of the Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Office of the President, said this in Wa during the launch of the 2026 World Shea Expo, in partnership with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana EXIM Bank, and Savannah Golden Tree Limited.
The Expo is scheduled to be held in Tamale from August 25 to 27, focusing on trade, investment, innovation, and training to strengthen the industry.
Some women shea pickers in the region also received Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including Wellington boots and hand gloves, to improve productivity and ensure safety during shea picking activities as the season begins.
Dr Otokunor described the shea sector as a major source of livelihood for thousands of women in Northern Ghana, as well as parts of the Oti and Bono regions.
He recalled the success of the 2025 World Shea Expo in Tamale, which attracted over 8,000 participants from 16 countries, featured 136 exhibitors, and generated thousands of business linkages across the shea value chain.
Dr Otokunor said: “Despite Ghana’s significant earnings from shea exports, the country still loses a large portion of the shea value due to limited processing capacity, a situation the government is determined to change under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.”
Alhaji Imoro Alhassan, the Executive Chairman of Savannah Golden Tree Limited (SGTL), commended the government, development partners, and traditional authorities for supporting the development of the shea sector in the country.
He reaffirmed SGTL’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women and youth while positioning Ghana’s shea sector competitively on the global stage.
Madam Sarah Arhin, Head of Corporate Banking at Ghana EXIM Bank, reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting the growth of the shea industry to promote women’s empowerment, rural industrialisation, export growth, and job creation.
She said the Ghana EXIM Bank had, over the years, supported shea processors with loan facilities, grants, and the establishment of processing centres across Northern Ghana to improve productivity and livelihoods.
The Project Director of the World Shea Expo, Mr Eric Banye, said the 2026 Expo would feature exhibitions, training programmes, and field demonstrations aimed at expanding investment in the shea value chain and creating employment opportunities.
He described the World Shea Expo Ghana as a major platform for promoting the shea sector and empowering women in Northern Ghana, and called on stakeholders to support the initiative to position Ghana’s shea industry prominently on the global market.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, described the launch of the World Shea Expo 2026 in the region as an important step towards transforming the shea industry and improving livelihoods, particularly for women in the area.
Source : AccessAgric
