The World Shea Conference and Expo 2024 is an event aimed to raise awareness about the lucrative international market for Shea. The Expo stands to further unveil the employment opportunities of the industry and heights its potentials to bolster foreign exchange as well as fosters prosperity, especially for women who are at the core of the Shea industry. The Conference was organized under the theme “Nurturing Growth, Empowering Communities”. It brought together various actors in the Shea value chain including women shea pickers, farmers, processors, aggregators, and researchers among other associations and financial institutions.

Professor Abukari Alhassan delivered a keynote speech as the Director of the West Africa Center for Shea Innovation and Research, UDS. He introduced the center’s mission which focused on promoting sustainable innovations in the Shea sector through evidence-based research and policy advocacy.

Prof. Alhassan highlighted the critical role of the Shea industry in both local and global economy, emphasizing its impact on women’s livelihoods across West Africa. He noted that over 16 million women in 21 African countries are involved in Shea nut harvesting, a crucial source of income. However, these women unfortunately do not receive their fair share of the global profits. He urged stakeholders to consider the consequences if these women were to cease their activities, underscoring the need for equitable benefit-sharing across the value chain.

Addressing the quality challenges faced by the Shea industry, Prof. Alhassan announced that WACSIR-UDS is in discussion with the Food and Drugs Authority and other organizations to host a consultative forum. This forum will focus on developing industry standards, sharing best practices, and improving the quality and competitiveness of Ghana’s Shea products on the global market.

Concluding his speech, the Director of WACSIR-UDS called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders, including government institutions, industry players, international organizations, and civil society to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the Shea industry, which remains a lifeline for many rural women in West Africa.

Also speaking at the event was the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, who noted the importance to celebrate the rich heritage and the multifaceted benefit of the Shea tree, the treasure that has been the corner stone of the people of the north. He stated that the Shea tree, as the symbol of resilience and nourishment has not only sustained the livelihood of many families in the region but has also contributed to the socio-economic development and advancement of the nation at large.

The Northern Regional Minister also highlighted, despite the importance, the Shea industry also encounters mirage of obstacles, ranging from human activities such as bad farming practices, cutting down of Shea trees for local charcoal production and bush burning. These contribute to climate change and market fluctuations, and have become a threat to its sustainability. He appealed to the industry players to collaborate to foster the sustainability of this lucrative resource.

The World Shea Conference and Expo 2024 was organized by the Savannah Golden Tree Limited and supported by a coalition of stakeholders including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Tree Crop Development Authority, West Africa Center for Shea Innovation and Research of the University for Development Studies (UDS) among other partners.

Story by:
Ali Abdur Razaq Danbo (UDS MEDIA)